Modern Dog Summer 2015

8 fun games to play with your dog + Your dog understands that smile on your face—it's proven!

The lifestyle magazine for modern dogs and their companions

DOGS, YOGA + LOVE

S U MMER 2015

How Smart is Your Dog?

Yoga Girl’s Rescue Mission Get ready to have serious life envy! p86

Take the test! p48

Yum!HESE

T KE R MA REEZE OR F F G ATS TRE UR DO YO 4 Publications Agreement Number 40743013 Return Mail Dept, 202–343 Railway St., Vancouver, BC V6A 1A4

p9

Cool Collars!

p90

How To Make Your Dog's Day

p64

Wedding Inspiration

p46

IS YOUR DOG HOME ALONE ALL DAY?

Here's how to make it up to him! p110 moderndogmagazine.com DISPLAY UNTIL SEPT ‘15

$5.95

STARS, THEY’RE ACTUALLY JUST LIKE US! WANT IT! GROOVY SUMMER DOG GEAR LITTERMATE SYNDROME

Could the Mastiff, the Boston Terrier, or the Cairn Terrier be the breed for you? Find out on pages 106 and 22

SUMMER 2015

VOL 14

NO 2

64 FEATURES 26

Smell Power 8 fun scent games that will turn on your dog’s nose and heart. BY STEVE DUNO

36

Littermate Syndrome Why two puppies aren’t always better than one.

BY NICOLE WILDE

40

Going Public How visibility and thinking outside of the box is creating forever homes for homeless pups.

BY DARCY WINTONYK

46

Adorable Wedding Ideas 7 cute ways to include your dogs in your big day.

BY ROSE FROSEK

48

How Smart is Your Dog? Test your dog’s memory to find out!

BY STANLEY COREN

54

Not Your Typical Grandma Talk about second acts! When Wilma Melville retired, no one, least of all her, could have foreseen she’d go on to start a tremendous non-profit—The National Search Dog Foundation—that trains former shelter dogs, many of them plucked from the euthanasia list, to find people buried alive in disasters.

BY JEN REEDER

64

Dogs That LOVE Water: An Exercise In Enthusiasm Have a water dog on your hands? She's going to get way down with this gear!

78

6 Things to Help You Through Pet Loss Grief

BY SARAH DALOISE

86

Yoga Girl Get ready to be inspired. Rachel Brathen—yoga teacher, world traveller, rescuer of dogs—is the real deal. If you're looking for the courage to follow your dreams, turn to page 86 to find out how one woman followed her own path to love, happiness, and crazy success.

BY JENNIFER NOSEK; PHOTOGRAPHED BY BEN KANE

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SUMMER 2015

94 98

8 More Things Humans Do That Annoy Dogs Are you guilty of interspecies faux pas? Turn to page 98 to find out! BY STEVE DUNO

100

Dogs Can Read That Smile on Your Face Think your dog doesn’t know how you’re feeling?

Think again. A new study shows that dogs can recognize emotions simply by looking at a human face.

BY STANLEY COREN

BREED PROFILE 22

Read Your Breed Meet your match: find out if the Boston Terrier or the Cairn Terrier is the breed for you.

106

The Mastiff The tough-looking exterior of this BIG dog—the largest of the giant breeds—disguises an inner softie. Is the Mastiff right for you? Flip to page 106 to find out!

BY KELLY CALDWELL

BODY AND SOUL 70

The Majority Project: Pit Bull Lovers Unite!

72

The Creepy Crawlies: Fleas and Ticks

74

No Hot Pets

76

Fuel the Love; Quotable

PHOTO CATE CAMERON

64

52

Sweet Summer Scores Super fun summer finds for you and your dog.

60

Look What We Found!

Cool finds for dogs and the people who love them.

90

Hot Dog! These Are Some Cool Collars Want it! Irresistible collars.

LIVING

62

Keep It Cool Fun summer ideas for you and your dog.

BY ROSE FROSEK

80

Want to Bring Your Dog to Work?

Here's how to make it a success.

82

Get Inspired!

Pocket-sized inspiration cards to stick on your fridge or use as a bookmark.

84

DIY Eat: Juice Pulp Dog Treats Make these delicious healthy treats with leftover juice pulp!

10

Oh Joy! Dogs Indulge in Their Favourite Summer Pastimes

24

92 We’re Giving It Away!

We’ve got three months of amazing giveaways, from gorgeous 94 leather collars to gift boxes full of toys and treats, and winners every week! Turn to page 24 to see what’s up for grabs.

The Best Exercise For Your Dog's Breed

32

Stars, They’re Just Like Us! These celebrities, captured in candid moments, are crazy about their pups!

38

Dog Tattoos A love that lasts forever.

96

How to Bike With Your Dog, No Matter What Size!

Cool accessories that let you bring your dog—big or small—along for the ride.

104

DIY Craft: Pagami Paper Craft Pup Make this adorable desktop figure by simply cutting and folding paper.

110

5 Ways to Make It Up to Your Home-Alone Dog Ease the guilt! Here's how to make the most of your time together.

BY TEOTI ANDERSON

112

How I Met My Dog Old Dog.

BY CATHY MAYRIDES

115

Connie’s Book Club Curl up with a good dog and a good book: Editor-in-Chief’s Connie Wilson’s selection of summer must-reads.

118

Ask Dog Lady Bothered and bewildered? Crazed and confused? Dog lady delves into your most dogged dilemmas.

REGULAR FEATURES 6 Editor’s Letter 8 Contributors 12 Stuff We Love 14 The Scoop 20 Smile! Photo Contest 123 Marketplace

92

ON THE COVER

Rachel Brathen, aka Yoga Girl, with her best canine friend, her Italian Greyhound Ringo.

Photographed by Mikael Gustavsen.

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SUMMER 2015

DIY Eat: Summer Freezies Quick, cool freezer treats you can make for your dog in mere minutes!

128 Last Lick Quotable.

In USA: MODERN DOG (ISSN 1703-812X) Volume 14, Issue 2. Published quarterly

by Modern Dog Inc. at 142 Churchill Drive, Newington, CT 06111-4003. Periodicals postage paid at Hartford, CT and additional offices. POSTMASTER: send address changes to Modern Dog, PO Box 310402, Newington, CT 06131-0402.

PHOTO ERIKA A. PHOTOGRAPHY

THE GOODS

© MIKAEL GUSTAVSEN

36

EDITOR'S LETTER

The question is not Can they reason? nor, Can they talk? but, Can they suffer?

PHOTO KHAREN HILL

—Jeremy Bentham, philosopher, 1748–1832

L

ook back even ten years and you can see how much our perceptions about the earth and the animals we share this planet with have collectively changed for the better. Sure, this evolution of thought may not be happening as quickly as one might hope but there’s a sea change, I’m sure of it. Look back even further and the change becomes all the more apparent. Without a doubt we are becoming a more caring and humane society. Jane Goodall, Paul McCartney, and Ingrid Newkirk are but a few familiar names who have championed rights for our animal brethren. And then there are all the everyday heroes out there that champion rescue and honour their animals. We dog guardians, in sharing our lives with our dogs, can attest to their remarkable intelligence, capacity for emotion, and limitless loyalty. It’s proven that dogs can correctly interpret how a person is feeling simply by looking at a static photo of a human face! How amazing is that?

(Read all about this on page 100!) The incredibly strong bond we forge with our dogs—another species—helps us learn to become more compassionate toward all other creatures and build a stronger relationship with nature itself.

You’ll find heartwarming evidence of this progressive change of thought within these pages. “Going Public” (page 40) details the modernization of adoption efforts. Stores like PetSmart showcase only homeless dogs for adoption as opposed to selling puppies (puppies for sale in retail locations are almost always from ghastly puppy mills), while hotels like the Aloft are choosing rescue dogs as their canine concierges to highlight adoption. By getting dogs out of stress-

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SUMMER 2015

inducing shelters their true personalities emerge, giving the dogs a better chance to shine and be adopted. Another sterling example is John Mitchell, a co-founder of Paul Mitchell Hair Care and John Paul Pet grooming products. Way back in the 80s he took a stand against animal testing with a philosophy that his shampoos and conditioners be only tested on humans. It took the industry as a whole another ten years to begin following his lead and today this movement continues to strengthen. Then there’s Wilma Melville (page 54), whose retirement didn’t slow her down at all—she went on to start the National Search Dog Foundation, an organization that trains and pairs first responders with shelter dogs, many of which were scheduled for euthanasia due to their fanatical drive and focus—precisely the characteristics that make them great search and rescue dogs!

In short, it’s an issue chock full of goodness that we hope will elevate your spirit and leave you inspired.

Here’s to pushing the envelope, making a difference, and to having compassion for all living creatures.

Have a fantastic summer!

Connie Wilson, Publisher & Editor-in-Chief

C ON TRIBUT OR S SUMMER 2015

•

VOL 14

NO 2

Publisher

We couldn’t be happier to feature the lovely work of Victoria Scobbie in this issue (page 48)! Victoria is an illustrator and graphic designer based in Mississauga, ON. A graduate of the BAA Illustration program at Sheridan College, she has had her work featured in Applied Arts magazine and now Modern Dog! Victoria also designs her own line of greeting cards under the name Skipping Fox. Inspired by her love of animals and all things whimsical, her illustrated cards are playful and charming. We love all of them and highly suggest you check out her shop at skippingfox.com.

Modern Dog Inc. Editor-in-Chief

Connie Wilson Editor & Creative Director

Jennifer Nosek Audience Development & Digital Marketing Director

Lauren Cheal Social Media & Events Coordinator

Taryn Cheal Design & Production

Natalie Gagnon Sales & Marketing

Kara Gerlach & April Savoie Accounting and Subscription Services

Celine Benipayo Subscription Services Assistant

Lily Nguyen Controller

Taryn Gee is a lifestyle editorial illustrator who lives in Ajax, ON. When she isn't drawing, you can find her knitting and watching sitcoms.

Her family has a Boston Terrier named Leeloo who keeps Taryn company when she is taking a break.

She also has a cat named Abbi who does not like anything. Taryn reports the cat and dog do not get along, but needless to say, Taryn still loves them. To see Taryn’s awesome illustrations of fun scent games you can play with your dog, flip to page 26. For more of Taryn’s work, check out taryngee.com.

Ontario born and raised, photographer Ben Kane leads an enviable life, currently splitting his time between Toronto (for wedding photography, family, and friends) and Aruba (for yoga, the view, and to escape the cold). He is an architecture appreciator, strong coffee consumer, and picture taker. Favourite people and places to photograph include: brides, grooms, yogis, yogis' dogs, beaches, and sunsets—or, in other words, “people and places with a distinctive radiance.” Check out Ben’s amazing photos of Rachel Brathen, aka Yoga Girl, and her dogs on page 86!

If Ben’s photos have you dreaming of running into Rachel and her posse on an Aruban beach, you’re not alone!

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SUMMER 2015

Cecilia de Roca Chan Honourary Editor-at-Large

Jytte Wilson Subscription inquiries call (800) 417-6289 Advertising inquiries call (866) 734-3131 In Canada: MODERN DOG (ISSN 1703-812X) Volume 14, Issue 2.

Published quarterly by Modern Dog Inc. at Suite 202–343 Railway St, Vancouver, BC Canada V6A 1A4 POSTMASTER: send address changes to Modern Dog, Suite 202–343 Railway St, Vancouver, BC Canada V6A 1A4 In USA: MODERN DOG (ISSN 1703-812X) Volume 14, Issue 2. Published quarterly by Modern Dog Inc. at 142 Churchill Drive, Newington, CT 06111-4003.

Periodicals postage paid at Hartford, CT and additional offices. POSTMASTER: send address changes to Modern Dog, PO Box 310402, Newington, CT 06131-0402.

PHONE

(604) 734-3131 OR TOLL FREE (866) 734-3131

FAX

(604) 734-3031 OR TOLL FREE (866) 734-3031

The publisher is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, images, photographs or other materials. By accepting and publishing advertising the publisher in no way recommends, guarantees or endorses the quality of services or products within those advertisements.

Copyright 2015 by Modern Dog Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced by any means, electronic or mechanical, including the Internet or photocopying without the written permission of the Publisher. Modern Dog and its logotype are the trademarks of Modern Dog Inc. Modern Dog is published four times a year. One-year subscription prices: Canada $16CAD, U.S.A. $16USD, foreign $45USD. Subscription orders and customer service inquiries should be sent to Modern Dog Subscription Services, Suite 202–343 Railway St, Vancouver, BC Canada V6A 1A4

PRINTED IN CANADA

www.moderndogmagazine.com Publications Mail Agreement Number 40743013 We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada. Nous reconnaissons l'appui financier du gouvernement du Canada.

We Asked...

What's your dog's favourite summertime activity?

Loves chasing rainbows!

Chillin in a float of course.

—Andrea Magana

—Melissa Lawton

Remi Chewie loves the beach!

—Sheena Chachere

Bentley

Mushu

Pool time!!

Mackenzie

Ludmila likes to bird watch.

— Rita Jo Story

Madie

Rocco Taco

For a behind-the-scenes look at what we’re up to in the MD offices, the latest breaking stories and videos, cool contests, events, & exclusive giveaways, become a fan of Modern Dog on Facebook & follow us on Twitter, Instagram, & Pinterest. Go to facebook.com/moderndogmag, twitter.com/moderndogmag, instagram.com/moderndogmag & pinterest.com/moderndogmag.

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SU MMER 2015

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# @

STUFF WE LOVE Modern Dog staffers’ picks of the litter 1 Ever wish that Andy Warhol had painted a picture of your pup? Here’s the next best thing! Take a look at the amazing work of Manda Wolfe of Art by Manda and commission your very own custom pooch portrait in Pop Art style. My dog Lexi has never looked so fabulous!—Natalie (From $75, artbymanda.com)

BN

$

2 Mealtime just got better with Pets Stop Tray Top Double Diners! Designed to make it easier for dogs to eat by reducing the stress on their necks and vertebrates, as well as reduce the intake of excess air, this doggie diner features a stylish clean design with a sheet metal tray top and heavy-duty steel tube frame. For owners of larger breeds or older dogs with arthritic conditions, this is an absolute must-have!—Lily ($80, petsstop.com)

BM

3 I can’t get enough of this personalized cosmetic bag from Personalized Pooch. Not only does this little bag have my dog’s face on it, it holds all my daily essentials! It’s perfect.—Taryn ($38, personalizedpooch.com) 4 When I'm feeling hungry I'm always happy to dance for a Riley's Organics Sweet Potato dog treat. Organic and rich in antioxidants and vitamins, they help support my immune system and heart health.—Wirehaired Dachshund Penny (From $5, rileysorganics.com) 5 I’m totally feeling this nerdy “Intellectual Bully” shirt from SunFrogShirts.com to go with my nerdy self! SunFrog offers a huge array of super cool, fun shirts, including tons of rad dog-themed shirts like this one!—Celine ($19–$22, sunfrogshirts.com) 6 Whether after a beach romp or a bath, the Wet-Pet towel makes the task of drying your dog a breeze (and saves your good bath towels!). Keep some of these 100% biodegradable, super-absorbent disposable towels in your car and never be caught out with a wet, dirty dog again!—Angela ($3 for a five-pack of large towels, raypet.net)

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7 If you’re like me, you love having tea. Now your dog can enjoy tea as well with this 100% caffeine free, organic tea made especially for dogs and served in a porcelain teacup! Four different healthy delicious blends to choose from or get a variety pack! (It’s a super cute gift idea, too.)—April (From $10, teaforspot.com) 8 Style meets durability in the Boston bed from Pet Zen Den. I love that my guy can snuggle in for a good nap, plus the attached classic houndstooth blanket is super chic. And the entire bed is machine washable (major win!).—Lauren (From $130, petzenden.com)

BL

9 Perfect for bath time or beach excursions, Dry Buddies entirely surrounds your dog in absorbent fabric, keeping you, your home, and your car clean and dry by containing your wet dog. Genius!—Jennifer (From $40, drybuddies.com)

^

10 Trimming my dog Penny’s nails used to be a stressful chore until I started using an Andis Nail Grinder. Now it’s a breeze. The spinning grinding wheel shortens the nail with no pain and I don’t have to worry about cutting the quick. Everything you need is all contained in a neat little zippered case. Brilliant! —Connie (From $75, small-animal. andis.com) 11 I can't stop wagging my tail—soon I'll have a new brother when my human sister gets married this July! To show my wedding pride, I'm going to wear this adorable My Humans are Getting Married rustic heart sign from Michelles Cottage for their engagement photos.—Lexi the Rat Terrier ($39, etsy.com/shop/MichelesCottage)

(

12 Looking for the perfect paw accessory? I absolutely love this sterling silver rustic paw print charm bracelet from Christopher Robin Designs! It’s fun and stylish and lets people know you love your dog!—Kara ($129,chrisrobindesigns.com)

*

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SU MMER 2015

&

PHOTO LINDSEY DONOVAN

CANINE NEWS AND REVIEWS

Wag the Flag

MODERN DOG POLL QUESTION Do you kiss your dog?

CAST YOUR VOTE AT MODERNDOGMAGAZINE.COM

Wonderful organization gives new leash on life to rescue dogs and military heroes

Want to help? There’s an array of ways you can pay it forward, from creating an online fundraiser (they make it super easy with a form all ready to go!), donating a dog (guidelines found on their site), or, if you’re in the Jacksonville, FL area, even making casseroles to make sure all of their warriors are provided with home cooked meals through their “Kasseroles for K9s” program—all pretty cool ways to say thank you. Find details on all of the aforementioned at k9sforwarriors.org. Kudos to Bayer for supporting this amazing organization.

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SU MMER 2015

PHOTO SHARON GILBERT

With the 4th of July upon us, we thought to ourselves, what better time to spotlight K9s For Warriors? This wonderful organization is dedicated to providing service canines to military personnel suffering from post-traumatic stress or traumatic brain injury as a result of military service post 9/11. Their goal is to give a new leash on life to both rescue dogs (yay!) and military heroes, empowering wounded warriors to return to civilian life with dignity and independence.

FOR ME?!

Friday Freebie winners, Skipper & Schooner can't keep their eyes and mouths off Plato Pet Treats Be as lucky as Sharon Gilbert's dogs by following Modern Dog on Facebook and entering our weekly Friday Freebie contest! facebook.com/moderndogmag

THE SCOOP

PHOTOS TANYA KING

WE SENI ORS!

4 Things You Should Be Doing For Your Senior Dog Help Your Dog Get Enough Exercise. Just because our golden oldies are content to spend 1) most of their time curled up on the couch doesn’t mean we can shirk our responsibilities where their (at least) twice daily ramble is concerned. It’s paramount to our aging dogs’ physical and mental health that they get out there everyday—albeit it at perhaps a slower pace—to move those bones and experience a change of environment to stimulate their senses. We too could spend all day lying around but it certainly wouldn’t be good for us!

Keep Them Slim. Don’t allow your dog to pack on the pounds as she becomes less active.

2) Extra weight is incredibly detrimental to our dogs’ health, putting extra strain on joints and organs. Obesity is linked to all manner of canine disease, cancer among them. Make sure your senior is eating the best food you can afford, in a scaled back serving size that reflects his current level of activity. And as treats are one of our dogs’ chief pleasures, save some room for those—just make sure they’re low calorie and small (dogs would rather have ten teensy treats than one large one they scarf down in a millisecond).

Help Your Senior Get Around. Lots of older dogs can get a bit wobbly. If you have 3) hardwood floors, seriously consider a runner carpet for added traction. It makes a big difference. Pet steps to get up to a favourite spot on the couch are also a great idea. If your dog has a weak backend, a mobility aid like the GingerLead can be beyond helpful. Inspired by their dog Ginger (that's her in the inset—isn't she a cutie?), the folks at GingerLead created a dog support and rehabilitation harness ideal for aging or disabled dogs needing some assistance with their balance or mobility. Its soft, padded belly sling with a leash and handle lets you help dogs with weak hind legs walk (from $36, gingerlead.com).

Those (not so) Pearly Whites. Unchecked tartar build 4) upDon’tcanNeglect cause gingivitis, which can cause bacteria to circulate through your dog’s blood

16 moderndog

stream and harm her internal organs. Bad teeth and inflamed gums are no joking matter; good dental health is so important for overall wellness. This means it’s essential to keep up with the daily tooth brushing—we know, it’s no one’s favourite thing, but maintaining good dental hygiene is very important to the health of your older dog. Also: If your senior is suddenly turning up her nose at her dinner, don’t immediately chalk it up to a reduced appetite—it could be joint or tooth pain! Talk to your vet to get to the bottom of it. n SU MMER 2015

THE SCOOP

PHOTOS TANYA KING

WE SENI ORS!

4 Things You Should Be Doing For Your Senior Dog Help Your Dog Get Enough Exercise. Just because our golden oldies are content to spend 1) most of their time curled up on the couch doesn’t mean we can shirk our responsibilities where their (at least) twice daily ramble is concerned. It’s paramount to our aging dogs’ physical and mental health that they get out there everyday—albeit it at perhaps a slower pace—to move those bones and experience a change of environment to stimulate their senses. We too could spend all day lying around but it certainly wouldn’t be good for us!

Keep Them Slim. Don’t allow your dog to pack on the pounds as she becomes less active.

2) Extra weight is incredibly detrimental to our dogs’ health, putting extra strain on joints and organs. Obesity is linked to all manner of canine disease, cancer among them. Make sure your senior is eating the best food you can afford, in a scaled back serving size that reflects his current level of activity. And as treats are one of our dogs’ chief pleasures, save some room for those—just make sure they’re low calorie and small (dogs would rather have ten teensy treats than one large one they scarf down in a millisecond).

Help Your Senior Get Around. Lots of older dogs can get a bit wobbly. If you have 3) hardwood floors, seriously consider a runner carpet for added traction. It makes a big difference. Pet steps to get up to a favourite spot on the couch are also a great idea. If your dog has a weak backend, a mobility aid like the GingerLead can be beyond helpful. Inspired by their dog Ginger (that's her in the inset—isn't she a cutie?), the folks at GingerLead created a dog support and rehabilitation harness ideal for aging or disabled dogs needing some assistance with their balance or mobility. Its soft, padded belly sling with a leash and handle lets you help dogs with weak hind legs walk (from $36, gingerlead.com).

Those (not so) Pearly Whites. Unchecked tartar build 4) upDon’tcanNeglect cause gingivitis, which can cause bacteria to circulate through your dog’s blood

16 moderndog

stream and harm her internal organs. Bad teeth and inflamed gums are no joking matter; good dental health is so important for overall wellness. This means it’s essential to keep up with the daily tooth brushing—we know, it’s no one’s favourite thing, but maintaining good dental hygiene is very important to the health of your older dog. Also: If your senior is suddenly turning up her nose at her dinner, don’t immediately chalk it up to a reduced appetite—it could be joint or tooth pain! Talk to your vet to get to the bottom of it. n SU MMER 2015

PHOTO KAI JACOBSON

THE SCOOP CAPTION THIS! Exercise your funny bone. Create a caption for this cartoon and submit your entry at moderndogmagazine.com/cartooncaption.

The most comic captions will be published in the next issue.

Don't hate me because I'm popular…

RISE OF THE BULLDOG!

AND THE WINNING CAPTION FROM THE SPRING ISSUE IS…

The loveable breed hits highest spot ever, while the Labrador Retriever remains No.1 The Labrador Retriever has done it again. The American Kennel Club (AKC) released their latest registration statistics and the intelligent, family friendly breed holds tight to the number one spot on the most popular list for the 24th consecutive year, continuing the longest reign as top dog in AKC history.

While the Lab holds strong, the Bulldog has quietly crept up the list, landing this year at number four for the first time ever—its highest ranking to date. This gentle breed makes an excellent family companion with a natural tendency to form strong bonds with kids, an easy-to-care-for coat, and minimal exercise needs.

Meanwhile, the popular French Bulldog continues its quest for the number one spot, breaking into the top 10 for the first time in nearly 100 years this year at number nine. The Dachshund was knocked out of the top 10 this year for the first time since 1985, landing at number 11.

“The Lab truly is America’s dog,” said AKC Vice President Gina DiNardo, “but the lovable Bulldog breeds are clamoring to dominate. Watch out for an upset next year.”

America’s most popular aren’t the only movers and shakers. The Wirehaired Pointing Griffon (aka “the 4-wheel drive of hunting dogs”) made huge strides over the past decade, jumping 38 spots from 112th in 2004 to 74th in 2014. Other breeds making double-digit gains over the past decade include the Havanese (from 52nd in 2004 to 25th in 2014), the Border Collie (from 60th in 2004 to 39th in 2014), the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever (from 118th in 2004 to 96th in 2014), and the Black and Tan Coonhound (from 140th in 2004 to 120th in 2014). n

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"Again? I just spacewalked you an hour ago!"

SUBMITTED BY LAURA CASSAR

RUNNER-UP CAPTIONS "I distinctly remember telling you to 'stay' when I left home!" SUBMITTED BY BRAD LABANOWITZ "I told you to go potty before we left."

SUBMITTED BY JOAN MULLAHY

"You packed my special pillow, right?!"

SUBMITTED BY CAROL ANN M.ZATORSKY

"What in the world are you doing? Get back in the ship!"

SUBMITTED BY ANGELIA REDDELL

C A R T O O N S © 2015 B Y D A V I D J A C O B S O N

French Bulldog Hank here is an ex Modern Dog staffer and a darn adorable ambassador for his breed. Follow Hank on Instagram at @thelifeof_hank.

!

E L I M S Bear

Modern Dog’s Photo Contest Winners!

Jackson Gurley-Hocevar Buffalo Bill

Golden Retriever

Australian Shepherd

Miniature Dachshund

Zolo & Blizzard Mini Golden Doodle & "Bernedoodle" Xxx Xxx

Wallace

Belle & Marti

Border Collie

Collie & Bichon Frise

Nina

Viszla/Terrier

Frankie

Marvelous mutt 20 moderndog

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Skye

Toy Australian Shepherd

Castro Shihtzu

Tango

German Shepherd

Roxy

Shiba Inu

Badem

Uffie

Bichon Frise

Pomeranian/Chihuahua

Buddy

Pit Bull/ Beagle

Bubba

Lab/Mastiff

Spots Buttercup

Lab/Shepherd

Colt Davis

American Pit Bull

Miniature Schnauzer

Kili

Marvelous mutt

Bella

Luke

Bernese Mountain Dog

Veena

Long Haired Dachshund

St. Bernard

Spirit

American Labrador

Think your dog ought to be in Modern Dog?

Charlie Kasey

Pomeranian

Upload your dog’s photo at moderndogmagazine.com/ photocontest.

Not only will he or she be entered to be our Dog of the Week, but a selection of the photos entered will appear on these pages!

German Shepherd moderndogmagazine.com

21

READ YOUR BREED Meet your match. Could either the Boston Terrier or the Cairn Terrier be the perfect breed for you? Read on to find out!

The Boston Terrier The American Gentleman

Believe it or not, Boston Terriers were originally bred for pit fighting. Like the local bar brawler in every hometown, the Boston Terrier was once a fearless fighter.

However, unlike the hometown goon, this one-time scrapper evolved into a sophisticated little dude.

The Boston is a mixture of many breeds—the English and French Bulldogs, the Bull Terrier, the now-extinct white English Terrier, and the Boxer. Is he from Boston? Yes. Terrier? Actually, no. The Boston "Terrier" isn't even in the Terrier group; he's in Non-Sporting.

Their spunky personalities endear them to their human companions. They're intelligent, well mannered, alert, rambunctious, and, at 15 to 25 pounds, a travel-friendly size. Easy to train and frequently effective watchdogs, the Boston Terrier is good with children. However, as we all know, nothing in life is perfect. Much the same as Uncle Cecil, the Boston Terrier is prone to snoring. But if you can handle the nighttime sonorous symphony, you just may have an awesome new pal.

Could the Boston Terrier be right for you? Read more at moderndogmagazine.com/boston-terrier.

The Cairn Terrier

Courage, Heart, and Intellect

This adaptable breed—at home either in the city or on rural acreage—has courage and heart and, though a small package at just 13 to 14 pounds, is game for anything! The Cairn’s personality is sensible, alert, cheerful, and confident but not belligerent. Because they were originally kept to hunt in packs, Cairns are not scrappy towards other dogs, and they enjoy children. The breed does carry an independent streak, however, and training them not to chase squirrels or anything else that runs away will be a Herculean task.

With his perky upright ears, bright eyes, and shaggy facial hair, the Cairn is said to have a foxy expression. They sport a low-maintenance double coat (long and harsh on the outside, soft and fluffy underneath) that can be any colour except white. Members of this breed are hardy and long-lived (14 to 15 years), suffering few health complications.

A sturdy physique and can-do attitude make the Cairn a willing participant in almost any activity, from formal agility or obedience trials to hiking in or lunching with friends at the local sidewalk bistro.

Could the Cairn Terrier be right for you?

Read more at moderndogmagazine.com/cairn-terrier. n

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s y a w a e v i G t a e Gr

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We’re giving it away! Enter to win fabulous giveaways each and every week in June, July, and August.

Go to moderndogmagazine.com/giveaways to enter! Lucky readers will win every week.

june

1st-7th Win 1 of 5 $50 gift cards for a custom, leather dog collar from RuffPuppiesCollars.com! The beautiful designs range from classic to designer to suit every style!

8th-14th

15th-21st

22nd-30th

8th-14th

15th-21st

22nd-31st

Win 1 of 10 AKC Calming Coats and ease your dog’s anxiety this rainstorm, thunderstorm, and fireworks season.

Safe, drug-free, and machine washable.

Win 1 of 10 packages of Stewart Raw Naturals Freeze Dried Dog Food (12 ounce size), a convenient, easy to feed, raw diet without the freezer!

Win 1 of 2 three-month gift box subscriptions from PawPals With Annie! Each gift box will be packed with premium toys, treats, and goodies.

july

1st-7th

Win 1 of 15 Fur-Zoff, the new and better way to remove pet hair from your home and vehicles. Made in USA of 90% recycled material, it’s 100% durable!

Win an Easy-Clean Pet Crate with wire top from Richell USA! Winner picks size: small for pets up to 17.6 pounds or large for pets up to 44 pounds.

Win 1 of 5 Tea for Spot Tea Time sets!

100% caffeine free, organic tea for dogs served in an exclusive porcelain Spot's Teacup.

august

1st-7th

Win 1 of 5 three-month subscriptions to Paws & Play Pet Subscription Boxes, packed full of awesome toys, healthy treats, and premium surprise dog goodies!

8th-14th

Win 1 of 8 packs of incredible 16 oz.

Chicken Jerkies from Kona’s Chips, the all-American dog treat company born in the USA in 2007!

15th-21st

Win 1 of 2 Dynamic Accents freestanding dog gates, handmade in the USA using mortise and tenon construction. No tools needed to adjust from 28 to 48 inches!

Win a Motorola SCOUT5000, the latest in wearable technology for dogs! It lets you see what your dog’s up to, communicate via two-way audio, control barking, GPS track, and more!

22nd-31st

Win 1 of 15 two-year subscriptions to Modern Dog magazine, chock full of helpful articles, heartwarming stories, and so many cute dog photos!

No purchase necessary to enter or win. Beginning June 1, 2015 at 12:01 AM (PST) through August 31, 2015 at 11:59 PM (PST), enter each day at moderndogmagazine.com/giveaways. Each week’s giveaway ends at 11:59 PM (PST). Each week, the specified number of winners for that week’s giveaway will win the prize featured in the giveaway calendar (ARV: $200). Odds of winning depend on the number of entries received. Contest is open to legal Canadian and US residents 18 and older as of date of entry. Void in Puerto Rico and where prohibited by law. Giveaway subject to complete official rules available at moderndogmagazine.com/giveaways.

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SMELL POWER! Eight Fun Scent Games That Will Turn On Your Dog’s Nose & Heart

By Steve Duno Illustrations by Taryn Gee

Though newborn puppies are essentially blind at birth, their sense of smell is fully developed and active. It’s a dog’s most powerful sense and the one we humans overlook the most. While we focus on what things look like, our dogs’ attentions center on a smorgasbord of scents floating through the air: what the neighbours had for dinner; which raccoon walked through the yard the night before; if the retriever across the street just got a bath.

MASTERS OF SMELL We have six million olfactory receptors; dogs have up to 300 million.

Additionally, the part of the brain that analyzes smells is 40 times bigger in dogs than humans. This enables dogs to find lost hikers, discover buried truffles, or even locate cadavers beneath the water.

It stands to reason then, that we should somehow be harnessing this amazing power in our own pets.

Once dependent upon their noses to survive, most domestic dogs today are a bit out of practice. But the good news is that, with just a little planning and patience, you can add fun scent games to your dog’s repertoire of behaviours and help her utilize this untapped smell power!

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LET THE GAMES BEGIN! Your dog should be able to master the following eight scent games in short order. They increase in order of difficulty, so be patient, and make it fun.

And remember: they are just games!

#1

#2

FIND THE FOOD

PICK THE HAND

This is a simple way to engage your dog’s scenting prowess. It requires you to do nothing but place treats randomly around the home in the hopes that she will locate them by scent. Once she finds the first one (often by accident), she will quickly key into the possibility of finding others with her nose. Start by placing one or two treats down in full view, while she is out of the room. Then call her in. She will eat them happily and look for more. Repeat this process, but begin placing the treats in less obvious places; in a corner, just beneath a sofa or coffee table, or even partially beneath a doggie cushion. Place them while she is outside, or in another part of the home. Then simply let her find them on her own. You will soon see her scenting for them rather than looking for them.

Vary placement and quantity; some days just hide one treat. Once she “gets it,” vary the hidden item. Try hiding a food dispenser toy filled with treats. Hide a feather rubbed with cheese. Hide a frozen cube of meat or broth (on a plate of course!). Then move it out into the yard and do the same, making it easy at first then progressively harder. Try hiding a chicken egg out there! You can even try this in your car or in a friend’s home.

Here’s a simple way to rev up your dog’s nose. First, get some small tasty treats that will fit into your hand. A bit of turkey meat or cheese will work better than kibble because of the former’s stronger aroma. Next, take one into your palm and make a loose, palm-down fist. Then, with your dog sitting in front of you, offer her that fist, and let her sniff. While doing so, say “Find it!”

Once she has sniffed it, open your hand and offer the treat, saying, “Good find it!” Repeat this a few times. Then, add your other empty fist. Don’t let her see which hand you place the treat into.

Next, move your closed hands back and forth, then offer up both to her, saying “Find it!” When she sniffs at the treat hand, say, “Good find it!” and open your hand to give her the treat. Repeat this, alternating the hand in which you place the treat. As you continue, wait until you can see her nose really “alert” on the treat hand before opening up. The idea is to teach her that the location of treat varies and can be found only by scenting it out. Once she gets it, add a friend’s two fists into the mix, making it doubly hard for her.

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#5

#3 NEW ANIMAL SCENT Dogs are born trackers of prey, other predators, and competitors.

Take advantage of this by placing the scent of a new animal into your dog’s yard and see if she picks up on it. Try this outdoors only as dogs will often urinate over another animal’s scent as a way of reclaiming territory.

To begin, give an old towel or rag to a friend and have him or her rub it all over his or her dog or cat. If possible, have him or her get a drop of urine on the cloth as it contains strong scents.

If not, rubbing it will do. Then, without your dog present, place the cloth out of sight somewhere in the yard, beneath a bush or behind a tree. Then let your dog out and see what happens! You can try this randomly with the scent of different animals to keep your dog guessing. After trying dog and cat scents, try hamster, parrot, ferret—whatever you can locate.

This game builds upon the “Pick The Hand” game. Get four sturdy, coffee cup-sized containers that she cannot break or easily knock over. Avoid glass or paper; glass could break and paper is too flimsy. With your dog sitting and watching, place a treat underneath one cup then move it back and forth. Then say, “Find it!” When she sniffs at it, lift the cup and say, “Good find it!” as she eats the treat. If she knocks the cup over, that’s fine. Next, add a second cup. Place the treat then move the cups back and forth a bit. Say, “Find it!” and let her sniff each cup. Wait until she sniffs the right one before praising and lifting the cup. Repeat until she reliably picks the right cup. Then add a third cup, and repeat until she gets it on the first try every time. At that point, you’ll know that she’s using her nose and not random choice.

#4 HIDE & SEEK Here’s one that uses you as the treat. While your dog is distracted somewhere in the home, hide in a closet, under a bed, or somewhere she wouldn’t normally expect you to be. Then just wait.

She will inevitably begin searching for you. Once she finds you, praise and reward! If you are in a closet and you hear her sniff at the door, you’ll know she’s doing what dogs have done for centuries.

Next, take it outdoors to a dog-friendly off-leash wooded area, preferably with no one else around­­. Have a friend hold your dog, then walk off into the woods and find cover. Your friend should wait 30 seconds, then say “Where’s, (your name)!” and release her. Your dog should scoot off with her nose to the ground, searching for you. Within a minute she should find you, at which point you should reward her mightily! Increase your distance over time until she can find you no matter how far off.

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#6 WHERE'S DINNER? While wild dogs have to track and capture food every day, our dogs know they will find a meal in the same spot every day. But what if, when you called her for dinner one day, her bowl was in a different spot? The answer is simple: she would instantly begin looking for it. Try first placing it in the room next door; she will begin sniffing excitedly and find the scent-rich bowl in seconds.

The next day, hide the bowl somewhere across your home and call her for dinner. It will take her a bit longer, but she will find it and wolf it down. Once you’ve established this game, move her bowl once or twice per week and make her hunt it down.

ILLUSTRATIONS BY TARYN GEE

SHELL GAME

#7 SCENT TRAILS Food isn’t the only thing dogs are interested in smelling. Unique scents such as essential oils (lavender, anise, and valerian work well) can motivate dogs and will excite their tracking instincts. To start, get a favourite toy (a ball works well) and put a few drops of essential oil onto it. Then, play a quick game of indoor fetch, followed by a reward. Do so several times in a day. The next day, with the dog absent, hide the same toy, then place tiny pieces of paper anointed with the oil onto the floor, leading 20 feet away from the ball, like a trail of bread crumbs. Then let the dog into the room where the trail begins and say, “Find your ball!” Most dogs will scent out the pieces of paper then eventually connect that the smell with the ball. Keep at it and praise when she follows the trail. If need be, get her started by showing her the first scented paper. When she does find the ball, reward her! Gradually reduce the number of scented papers until she can find the scented ball all by herself. Once mastered in the home, move it out into the yard. Then change the scent and the toy and begin again. You can use chicken fat, cream cheese, peanut butter—anything your dog likes.

#8 FIND THE SCENT ITSELF Instead of using a scent as a means to help her find a ball, you can teach her to search out the scent itself. This is a simple version of what drug and bomb-sniffing dogs do.

If you have taught your dog to find a ball by following a scent trail, you have already taught her to key in on scent. To begin, take the same scented ball and place it in a shoebox. Then encourage her to come up to it and sniff it by saying, “Find your ball!”

Eventually she will scratch and paw at the box, whereupon you should take the ball out (if she hasn’t already) and reward her with it. Next, repeat this, only with three boxes, the ball in the original box (to prevent cross contamination). Say “Find your ball!” and work it until she succeeds. Reward her with a quick fetch session.

Now, instead of putting the scented ball in one of the three boxes, simply put a slip of paper in the same box, with a few drops of the same essential oil on it. Hide the scented ball outside, wash your hands, then place a new, unscented ball in your back pocket.

Say, “Find your ball!” again, encouraging her just as before. When she homes in on the box with the scented paper, praise her mightily then take out the ball in your pocket and toss it for her as a reward. Repeat this over time, increasing distance and the number of boxes. In no time, she will be an expert tracker!

These simple scent games only scratch the surface of a dog’s tracking capabilities. If your dog really takes to it and you feel so inclined, do a web search to locate a local tracking club and attend a introductory class. Who knows: your pooch could turn into a master tracker! n

Ready for the next step? Train your dog to hunt for truffles!

Go to moderndogmagazine.com/huntfortruffles

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#7 SCENT TRAILS Food isn’t the only thing dogs are interested in smelling. Unique scents such as essential oils (lavender, anise, and valerian work well) can motivate dogs and will excite their tracking instincts. To start, get a favourite toy (a ball works well) and put a few drops of essential oil onto it. Then, play a quick game of indoor fetch, followed by a reward. Do so several times in a day. The next day, with the dog absent, hide the same toy, then place tiny pieces of paper anointed with the oil onto the floor, leading 20 feet away from the ball, like a trail of bread crumbs. Then let the dog into the room where the trail begins and say, “Find your ball!” Most dogs will scent out the pieces of paper then eventually connect that the smell with the ball. Keep at it and praise when she follows the trail. If need be, get her started by showing her the first scented paper. When she does find the ball, reward her! Gradually reduce the number of scented papers until she can find the scented ball all by herself. Once mastered in the home, move it out into the yard. Then change the scent and the toy and begin again. You can use chicken fat, cream cheese, peanut butter—anything your dog likes.

#8 FIND THE SCENT ITSELF Instead of using a scent as a means to help her find a ball, you can teach her to search out the scent itself. This is a simple version of what drug and bomb-sniffing dogs do.

If you have taught your dog to find a ball by following a scent trail, you have already taught her to key in on scent. To begin, take the same scented ball and place it in a shoebox. Then encourage her to come up to it and sniff it by saying, “Find your ball!”

Eventually she will scratch and paw at the box, whereupon you should take the ball out (if she hasn’t already) and reward her with it. Next, repeat this, only with three boxes, the ball in the original box (to prevent cross contamination). Say “Find your ball!” and work it until she succeeds. Reward her with a quick fetch session.

Now, instead of putting the scented ball in one of the three boxes, simply put a slip of paper in the same box, with a few drops of the same essential oil on it. Hide the scented ball outside, wash your hands, then place a new, unscented ball in your back pocket.

Say, “Find your ball!” again, encouraging her just as before. When she homes in on the box with the scented paper, praise her mightily then take out the ball in your pocket and toss it for her as a reward. Repeat this over time, increasing distance and the number of boxes. In no time, she will be an expert tracker!

These simple scent games only scratch the surface of a dog’s tracking capabilities. If your dog really takes to it and you feel so inclined, do a web search to locate a local tracking club and attend a introductory class. Who knows: your pooch could turn into a master tracker! n

Ready for the next step? Train your dog to hunt for truffles!

Go to moderndogmagazine.com/huntfortruffles

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!

Awww

They can't resist a good cuddle

! s r a St ’re just

They us! like !

tuff cute s

Olivia Palermo out with her dog Mr. Butler in Soho, NYC.

They bring their dogs along!

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They have a boys' day out!

Hugh Dancy and son Cyrus walk the family dog Weegee, a Schnoodle, on wife Claire Danes' birthday in Toronto, ON.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: © CPA, PACIFICCOASTNEWS; © PACIFICCOASTNEWS;

Dakota Johnson (50 Shades of Grey) seen walking her dog in downtown Manhattan, NYC.

© PACIFICCOASTNEWS; © O'NEILL/TODD G, PACIFICCOASTNEWS

Their coffee and their dogs are both essential

Edie Falco (The Sopranos) at the ASPCA'S 18th Annual Bergh Ball at The Plaza Hotel in NYC.

Th

They go on family dog walks

! like us

e

tongu out!

They can't resist cuteness!

George Clooney takes a romantic stroll with Amal Clooney and pooch Einstein after a day of filming Money Monster in NYC. George was full of smiles as he held hands with wife Amal while still wearing the suicide vest prop he wore in the scene.

Their best posing partner is their pup

Bella Thorne (My Own Worst Enemy) shops for some cute outfits with puppy Kingston! The Duff star Bella Thorne, takes her puppy Kingston shopping in LA. Katy Perry with her dog Butters while EPIX presents the world premiere screening of Katy Perry: The Prismatic World Tour at The Theatre at the Ace Hotel in LA.

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They outfit their pups!

PACIFICCOASTNEWS; © MAX DEANGELO, PACIFICCOASTNEWS; © PACIFICCOASTNEWS

Setya’rresj!ust

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: © ERIC KOWALSKY, PACIFICCOASTNEWS; ©

Paris Hilton dressed in a feather inspired dress, topped with cat ears and holding a dog shows her festival style at the Coachella Music Festival in Indio, CA.

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35

Is there ter anything cu ed ir than longha Dachshund puppies?

LITTERMATE SYNDROME Why two puppies aren't always better than one

By Nicole Wilde

A

n older gentleman attended one of my group classes with his two Siberian huskies. The nine-year-old siblings were smart and attentive, but whenever I walked the female a mere five feet away to work on leash skills, the male would panic. He’d cry, shriek, and try frantically to follow. The two had been together all of their lives and had never been separated, even temporarily. As you might imagine, this had caused problems in a variety of situations.

Although it doesn’t happen between all siblings, over-bonding is a commonplace phenomenon and is termed “Littermate Syndrome.” It’s the reason shelters, responsible breeders, trainers, and others caution against adopting siblings. What well-meaning owners often don’t realize is training two puppies at once is not only much harder than focusing on just one, but

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the pups are very likely to become more bonded with each other than they are with their owner. Siblings can become so dependent on each other that they become a sort of security blanket for each other, sometimes to the point that, when separated, they experience extreme distress. Separating them to take one to vet, for example, can be a traumatic experience.

Another issue is the lack of social skills that can develop when an owner believes that the pair playing only with each other covers their socialization needs. That philosophy is quickly disproved when the pups meet other dogs, especially those of different breeds with different play styles. An even more troublesome problem may occur with littermates of the same gender in the form of aggression toward each other as they enter adolescence and then

PHOTO CATE CAMERON

Training two puppies at once is not only much harder than focusing on just one, but the pups are very likely to become more bonded with each other than they are with their owner. adulthood—although this is certainly not always the case.

So what can you do to prevent problems if you already have littermates? First and foremost, get them accustomed to independence in a gradual, incremental way. If they sleep together in a crate, get another and start with the crates side by side, moving them farther apart over time. Set up obedience sessions where one person is training one dog while another works with the second dog at a distance. Engaging the pups’ minds in this way will help by giving them something to focus on, making it less likely that they will spiral out of control emotionally. Have the puppies spend time in separate rooms receiving relaxing attention such as massage, and begin to split them up when offering super yummy Kongs or other chew items. This way being separated will become associated with good things. Eventually, the pups should be separated briefly for walks and other outings, so they can build confidence and learn to experience the world on their own. n Get your puppy-fix minus the housetraining: Download our adorable puppy wallpapers for your tablet, phone or desktop at moderndogmagazine.com/puppywallpaper! moderndogmagazine.com

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Dog Tattoos

We asked you to share your dog-inspired tattoos with us and the countless examples we received were so sweet, varied, and lovely that we immediately decided we needed to share a selection in the summer issue. The artistry and indelible love they represent are a very fitting tribute to our canine friends.

Above: Vanessa Dong with her dog Sadie; Inset: Pam Wood.

Here's to a Love that Lasts fur-ever!

Jessy Howe

Erica Foshe

Tanika Campbell

Krystal KB

Kathy Taplin Roche

Jen Lewis Missy Carmichael

Mary Penny

Janice Serilla

Jamie Fincher

Real Life Inspiration: Share your awesome dog tattoo with us: facebook.com/moderndogmagazine

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The dog behind the tattoo

moderndogmagazine.com

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The hotel that lets you adopt homeless pups, the taxi service that delivers adoptable dogs to your office for a visit‌

Going Public How visibility and thinking outside the box is creating forever homes for homeless pups

After a short time at Aloft Asheville Downtown, adoptable dog Bubbles found his forever home with hotel guests from Greenville, SC.

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Adopt-a-dog events in unexpected venues—hotels, coffee shops—are not only a smash hit, they’re incredibly successful in finding forever homes for homeless pups

By Darcy Wintonyk

A

t a boutique hotel in Asheville, North Carolina, guests are treated to a little something extra during their nightly happy hour: canine companionship. As part of its adopt-a-pet program, people checking into the Aloft hotel there are greeted by an adoptable dog in the lobby wearing an “Adopt Me” vest. The dog has a playpen next to the reception desk, and guests are welcome to take the pup to the bar, lounge or thirdfloor dog run for some play time.

Taylor Johnson says she and her husband fell in love at first sight when they spotted Bubbles, a Beagle/Dachshund cross, in the lobby.

“She was wearing a little sweater that said 'Adopt Me' and hopped right into our arms.

She was just so relaxed and cuddly. We just knew she was the perfect fit for our family,” she said.

Johnson had previously visited animal shelters in search of their newest four-legged family member, but found the experience stressful and chaotic compared to meeting Bubbles, now named Sister, while hanging out in the hotel.

“There weren't a ton of dogs barking. The staff had been around her for days and could answer questions about her mannerisms and we could walk her around the hotel and see how she interacted with our other dog,” she said. “It was calm. It was easy.”

Of course, interested parties can't leave right away with their new dog. Charlie's Angels Animal Rescue, which hand picks which dogs go to the Aloft’s adopt-a-pup program, also oversees the adoptions, including the application, reference check, and home visit. If the potential adopter is from another state, the group will work with a local humane society to do the visit.

Kim Smith, President of Charlie’s Angels Animal Rescue, says getting dogs out from behind kennel bars and into a social setting is a key element to adoption success by allowing people to visualize that animal living in their home.

“Dogs in shelters aren't themselves. They're terrified and scared and you feel sorry for them. But when you see the dog trotting around in the hotel, wagging its tail, sitting on the couch, they're relaxed, the people are relaxed—and happy,” she said.

Twenty dogs have been adopted out since the unique program began last year, a

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Albus the Corgi with his new adoptive pet parent Samantha (left) at the Petsmart Mega Adoption event. Samantha is eager to take Albus to the dog park and generally spoil him, just as he deserves.

100 percent success rate.

“We've had dogs adopted in less than an hour and the longest we've fostered a dog is 10 days,” says Lauren Bowles, the Aloft's Director of Communications.

The dog-friendly hotel has never had a complaint about allergies or messes.

“The hotel guests love interacting with the dogs as much as the dogs love the attention,” said Bowles. “It's a win-win.”

“The Dog Cafe would provide potential adopters with a good idea at what a shelter dog's true personality is like, hopefully ending up in the dog finding his forever home,” she said.

Coffee for the Pup-Up Cafe was provided by Grounds for Hounds, a Santa Monica-based company that donates 20 percent of profits to local animal projects.

Owner Jordan Karcher can personally vouch for the effectiveness of a lowstress environment improving the odds of adoption: He adopted his dog Molly at an open-air pop-up adoption event outside a Whole Foods three years ago.

“I knew within 60 seconds of meeting her that I would never leave without her. Three years later, that skinny, brown-andwhite spotted girl serves as the face of Grounds & Hounds Coffee Co.—She’s front-and-center on every bag,” he said.

Companies find kindness reaps financial rewards.

A Growing Idea After volunteering in South Korea, where cat and dog cafes are a popular attraction, animal lover Sarah Wolfgang started crowdfunding with the goal of opening America's first permanent Dog Cafe in Los Angeles where people can interact with adoptable dogs in a social setting.

She tested the waters with her first “Pup-Up Cafe” in January. For $15, people could play and lounge with adoptable dogs of all breeds and sizes, while enjoying gourmet coffee purchased from a food truck outside. Consumers could sign up in advance to reserve their spot, but others walking by the shop could also stop by and sign up on the reservation list. Every dog ended up being adopted.

Wolfgang says a lot of shelter dogs are categorized incorrectly as aggressive or bark-y because they're in a high stress environment that doesn't allow them to showcase their true personality. So putting them in a more positive environment gives them a second chance.

And it's not just canines and coffee. Pubs, restaurants, and retail stores are seeing the benefit of promoting adoption too. Wags and Walks, the rescue that provided the dogs for the Pup-Up Cafe, just staged its first “Yappy Hour,” where people bring their dog to a pub for a cocktail and a bite to eat—and mingle with adoptable pups.

Founder Lesley Brog said these social initiatives generate a ton of adoption applications and are a logical extension for rescue groups fighting to get the attention of potential pet parents.

“The dogs' personalities begin to emerge when they are comfortable,” she said. “We often see dogs come out of their shell immediately upon leaving the shelter. Once we know their personality we can best match them with a forever home.”

The unique events are just a few of the many unique initiatives companies and rescues are working on to showcase homeless pets.

Ahead of this year's Puppy Bowl (that would be Animal

PetSmart’s adoption events saved the lives of more than 65,000 pets last year alone.

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Papa and Devon enjoy some quiet time at PetSmart Charities of Canada’s Mega Adoption event.

The Aloft’s Assistant General Manager ended up falling in love with Ladybug and adopting her, so Ladybug is now a regular at the Aloft Asheville Downtown!

Planet’s Super Bowl-themed adoptable puppy-a-thon), crowdsourced taxi alternative Uber and Animal Planet partnered with rescue groups in 10 American cities, including L.A., Atlanta, Baltimore, Cleveland, and Dallas, to deliver adorable puppies to office workers.

For $30, you got 15 minutes of face-to-face puppy cuddles.

All the money went back to the charities providing the dogs.

All one had to do to receive a visit was request the dogs via the Uber app.

At the Los Angeles event, Brog and her team sent mutts from Wags and Walks to Ryan Seacrest's radio studio for a little cuddle puddle.

“The event was so popular, only a few lucky companies were able to snag puppy time,” said Brog.

“Because of that, Wags and Walks has started getting requests for private puppy parties—and all the pups from the event have already found their forever homes.”

How much is that doggie in the window?

The notion of adopting out shelter pets in a retail space is spreading to an industry that, at first glance, would stand to lose money from the idea's success: pet stores.

Whereas many franchises make a tidy profit importing and selling purebred puppies and kittens (though the tide is turning thanks to growing public awareness of puppy mills), some industry leaders are bucking that trend and opting to showcase homeless pets instead.

Since pioneering the idea back in 1999, nearly all North American PetSmart locations now have adoption centers within their stores. Working with hundreds of local animal welfare

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organizations, PetSmart’s adoption events saved the lives of more than 65,000 pets last year alone.

During the first-ever Mega Pet Adoption Weekend held at Toronto, Ontario, PetSmart locations, 585 cats and dogs were adopted and welcomed into forever homes over just three days.

“Following the event shelters were reporting that they were empty, other than animals needing medical care, and able to take in more animals to help them also find forever homes,” said Stephanie Kerr of PetSmart Charities.

She says many people shy away from shelter adoptions because of a desire for a certain breed or uncertainly about the adoption process, but giving those same shelter pets visibility in their stores helps dispel those misconceptions.

Franchising a happy ending With an astounding 100 percent adoption success rate, the Aloft Hotel group is expanding its dog adoption program. Its newest location in Greenville, South Carolina, will have one when it opens this fall, and the chain is also hoping to do the same at its Tampa, Florida, hotel.

Since all of its hotels are already dog-friendly, it's hoped eventually every single one will get on board with the plan.

Kim Smith says she's been contacted by other hotel chains as far away as Austin, Texas, to introduce similar initiatives.

She feels hotel owners are figuring out that this is an easy way for them to give back, not just to the community, but to their clients as well.

“People love the fact they're staying at a hotel where pets are welcome too. The fact that they're away from their animals and they still get to hang out with a bundle of joy—it's a great feeling,” she said.

Uber and Animal Planet partnered with rescue groups in 10 cities to deliver adorable, adoptable puppies to office workers.

Ryan, Maria, and Stan, their new dog adopted from the Petsmart Mega Adoption event. “He got our heart right away,” Maria said. “I’m really happy we got to adopt him.”

And with hundreds of animals being euthanized in nearby shelters every week, Smith hopes the adopt-a-pet idea is one that catches on… and quickly.

“You are literally saving a life,” she says.

PetSmart's Stephanie Kerr takes that one step further, noting by adopting a pet you are actually saving two lives,“the life of the pet you will give a forever home and you also make room at the shelter for another pet in need.” And what could be sweeter than that? n

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INSPIRE!

Adorable Wedding Ideas

8 Cute Ways to Include Your Dogs in Your Big Day

By Rose Frosek

PHOTO KELLEY HYNDS

1

Let them pop the question

2

Include them in your Save the Date

3

Have them carry the ring

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PHOTOS LEFT TO RIGHT: MODERN DOG; WEBER PHOTOGRAPHY;

CHRISTOPHER MORRIS PHOTOGRAPHY

46 moderndog

e air Love is in th

4 PHOTO JS STUDIOS

Include your dogs in your engagement photos

5

6

Let your dog accompany the flower girl down the aisle

7

Invite them to the ceremony.

A wreath around your dog’s neck or a floral collar embellishment is a beautiful touch.

SHERRI CHARBONNEAU; CARYS THOMAS

PHOTOS LEFT TO RIGHT: CHRISTINE CHOI PHOTOGRAPHY;

Make them a part of the wedding party—include your dogs in your formal photos

For how to make an adorable dog collar embellishment visit: moderndogmagazine.com/floralcollar + moderndogmagazine.com/barkinbloom moderndogmagazine.com

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How Smart is Your Dog? Test your dog's memory to find out

By Stanley Coren Illustrations by Victoria Scobbie

Y

ou only go to the vet maybe once a year for those regular check-ups and booster shots, but, sure enough, whenever you get within five blocks of the vet's office, your dog starts whining, panting, and looking anxious. Does she really remember from year to year the exact route you drive to get there?

Most people are interested in how intelligent their dog is.

While there are predictable differences based upon the dog's breed (for example, Border Collies are a lot smarter and more trainable than Bulldogs), there is a lot of variability within each breed. This means that some Border Collies might be rather slow-thinking, while some Bulldogs might be college material.

There are some well-documented tests for the general mental abilities of dogs (such as the one described in my book, The Intelligence of Dogs), and all such tests include measures of a dog's memory.

Memory is a critical component of dog intelligence, since your

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dog can't learn if she can't remember. This makes tests of a dog's memory a good approximation of just how bright she is in general. However, memory changes with age. Older dogs show symptoms that are similar to the memory losses found in older humans, and severe cases show memory declines similar to those found in Alzheimer's Disease (in dogs, it is called "Canine Cognitive Dysfunction").

Whether you are merely curious about your dog's memory ability or worried about possible memory loss in an older dog, here is a simple test that you can give your dog at home. Two conditions must be met for the test to be valid.

First, your dog (to be original, let's call her "Lassie") must be at least a year old. It is also necessary for Lassie to have been living in the same place for at least ten weeks; otherwise the environmental memory test won't work. You'll need a stopwatch or a watch with a second hand, and an assistant to hold the dog is helpful.

Short-term memory The first test looks at short-term memory. You may observe failures in your own short term memory in situations when you ask for a phone number from an operator and correctly dial it immediately, meaning that the number is stored in your shortterm memory. However, when you get a busy signal and hang up to dial the number again, you often find you've forgotten the number, since short-term memory fades quickly.

The test requires an average-sized room that doesn't have a lot of furniture or other material cluttering it. You need a tidbit of food that has no strong odour (otherwise, Lassie's scenting ability will bias the results). If Lassie will not reliably sit and stay on command, have a helper present to hold her.

To start, place Lassie on a leash, and have her sit in the center of the room. While she watches you, show her the treat, then, with a great exaggerated show (but no sound), place the tidbit in a corner, making sure that she sees you put it down. Lead her out of the room, walk around in a small circle, and then bring her back to the center of the room. Leaving the room and returning to it should take no more than about fifteen seconds. Slip the leash off the dog, and start the stopwatch. Score as follows:

* If Lassie goes directly to the bait, score 5. * If she systematically sniffs around the edge of the room and finds the tidbit, score 4.

* If she seems to search in a random fashion but nevertheless

finds the tidbit within 45 seconds, score 3. * If she appears to try to find the tidbit but still hasn't succeeded after 45 seconds, score 2. * If she makes no effort to find the bait, score 1 moderndogmagazine.com

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Long-term memory The next test looks at long-term memory, which is relatively permanent and long lasting. Give this test immediately after the preceding test. The set-up is identical to the short term memory test. Make sure, however, that you place the tidbit in a different corner than the one you used for the short-term memory test. Take Lassie out of the room and keep her out of the room for five minutes. Then return her to the center of the room, slip off the leash, and start the stopwatch. Score as follows:

* If Lassie goes directly to the bait, score 5. * If she seems to search in a random fashion but still finds the If she goes to the corner where the first bait was and then quickly tidbit within 45 seconds, score 2. * goes to the correct corner, score 4. * If she appears to try to find the tidbit but still hasn't succeeded after 45 seconds, score 1. * If she systematically sniffs around the edge of the room and finds the tidbit, score 3. * If she makes no effort to find the bait, score 0.

Environmental memory This next test looks at environmental memory, which simply means how well your dog remembers the world around her. While Lassie is out of the house, rearrange the furniture in a room that is familiar to her. For example, you could bring a few additional chairs into the room, move a large piece of furniture toward the center of the room, place a coffee table in an odd corner, move a side table to the center of the room, or create several other obvious disturbances of the usual pattern of furniture placement. Try to make sure that at least five things are obviously different in the room. Then bring Lassie into the room and start your stopwatch while you stand quietly.

Score as follows:

* If Lassie notices something is different within 15 seconds and

starts to explore or sniff any changed aspect of the room, score 5. * If she notices the differences and checks out any one changed aspect of the room in 15 to 30 seconds, score 4. * If she does so in thirty to sixty seconds, score 3.

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* If she looks around cautiously, seems to notices something

is different, but does not explore any changed aspect of the room, score 2. * If a minute passes, and she still ignores the changes, score 1.

Alternate choice memory The final test involves alternate choice memory, or how well the dog remembers one of several possibilities. For this test, you need three identical, empty tin cans or plastic cups. Rub the inside of each with the tidbit of food that you will be using as bait, so that Lassie can't use smell to guide her choice.

Next, while she watches, show her the empty cans and arrange them in a row upsidedown with about one foot (30 cm) between each.

With exaggerated movements, show her the treat, then lift the middle can and place the treat under it. Slip the leash off and let her go. Whether she actually gets the treat or not by knocking over the can is irrelevant for this test, but note the attention that she pays to each can. Score as follows:

* If Lassie goes directly to the middle can, score 5. * If she goes to one of the outside cans first, then shifts her

attention and starts nosing the middle can while ignoring the others, score 4. * If she sniffs at all three cans and then returns to pay attention to the middle can, score 3. * If she circles the cans sniffing or poking at each indiscriminately, score 2. * If she wanders around or ignores the cans, score 1.

What the score means Add the scores from the four tests. If your dog scores 17 to 20, her memory is extremely good. Scores from 13 to 16 are above average, while 9 to 12 are average. Scores of 6 to 8 are borderline, while scores of 5 or less would place a dog in the bottom 10 percent of all dogs.

Although it is simply fun to know how good your dog's memory is, it is also a useful thing to measure your dog's memory when she is a healthy adult. You will then have a score to use as a reference to see if your dog's memory is declining as she grows older.

If your dog's memory is good, it will be easier for her to learn.

If your dog's memory is bad, it will be easier for her to forget that she was pinched or pulled by a particular child. She will also be less likely to remember that she should be still bearing a grudge against you for a late dinner or a missed walk-or that last trip to the vet. n moderndogmagazine.com

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Float it, retrieve it, tug it, toss it—the rugged Bomber by Zeus is ideal for dogs that love to play hard! Made of natural rubber with a reinforced layer for super durability, this toy has handles for throwing and tugging, plus it floats, bounces, kicks like a soccer ball… you name it! Mini Bomber, $17; Regular Bomber, $27, hagen.com

Whimzees all-natural, vegetarian, gluten-free dog treats are not only yummy, they’re designed to improve your dog’s dental health and freshen his breath while he chews! Bonus: adorable alligator shape that comes in two sizes, one for big dogs and one for little.

From $17, whimzees.com

Sweet Summer Scores SUPER FUN SUMMER FINDS FOR YOU AND YOUR DOG

Get your adventure on with this pet backpack from Wacky Paws! Just because you have a small dog, doesn’t mean he can’t join you on longer journeys. A backpack means you’ll both be comfortable, and this one can be worn front or back and affords your pup a view! $45, wackypaws.com

The Siesta indoor/outdoor pillow bed is perfect for lazy summer days!

Gorgeous, comfortable, durable, machine-washable, and won’t fade in the sun—this is definitely one for the patio! $100, one4pets.com

We’re in love with this Southwestern-inspired leather and turquoise Latigo collar from Ruff Puppies, an awesome summer accessory for any stylish pooch. $71, ruffpuppiescollars.com

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Cheers to Baron Cooper wines, a new collection of delicious California red and white wines that supports rescue! A portion of all sales is donated to Best Friends Animal Society to help homeless animals find forever homes. We’ll drink to that! From $15, baroncooperwines.com

Your bond with your dog is as unique as his nose print, and now you can celebrate your special dog with a pendant with his individual nose print on it! This gorgeous piece is the perfect way to honour your best friend. From $277, robinslovingtouch.com

Talk about second acts! When Wilma Melville retired, no one, least of all her, could have foreseen she’d go on to start a tremendous non-profit—The National Disaster Search Dog Foundation—that trains former shelter dogs, often times plucked from the euthanasia list, to find people buried alive in disasters.

By Jen Reeder

W

ilma Melville is not your typical grandma. When the now 82-year-old mother of four sons—and grandmother six times over—retired as a high school teacher and coach in the early 1990s, she had an unusual goal: “I wanted to learn to train a dog to do something special,” she says.

The field Melville chose was also unusual, especially at the time: disaster search. Disaster search dogs are trained to use their powerful noses to find people buried alive during disasters like earthquakes, floods or bombings then alert their handlers and rescue teams. Melville and her black Labrador Retriever, Murphy, trained with Pluis Davern in California to work toward an advanced disaster search dog certification from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which they achieved before Murphy turned two.

In April 1995, when Melville was 62, she and Murphy were deployed to the Oklahoma City bombing that killed 168 people

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and injured more than 680 others.

Suddenly, working with a search dog was no longer a hobby.

The disaster was horrific. And Melville was shocked by how few search teams brought trained canines, and to learn there were very few FEMA-certified dogs in the United States.

“I was horrified at the state of affairs,” she says. “I couldn’t believe that task forces came with no dogs. I couldn’t believe that a couple of task forces came with pet dogs. I said, ‘What’s happening here?’”

Back home in Ojai, CA, Melville decided something had to be done to rectify the situation—and that she was the person to do it. She realized she had the perfect background: not only was she a certified search dog handler but as a former teacher she could write an effective training curriculum. So she founded the nonprofit National Disaster Search Dog Foundation (SDF) with the mission to rescue dogs from shelters, train them as disaster search

PHOTO KARYN NEWBILL

Not Your Typical Grandma

PHOTO LEFT: CA-TF8; PHOTOS RIGHT FROM TOP: SHARON HANZELKA, COURTESY OF SEARCH DOG FOUNDATION, HOPE BLUEBERRY

SDF Executive Debra Tosch and Abby search for survivors at the World Trade Center, Sept. 11, 2001; Facing page: a kiss for SDF founder Wilma Melville

dogs, and pair them with firefighters and first responders—all for free and without any government funding. One basic principle got the ball rolling.

“You have to have the right dog,” Melville says. “The number one characteristic is drive. And what is drive? Drive is a dog who must have a job and who makes that clear to you.”

She said successful dogs are athletic, focused, bold, self-confident, and energetic and will walk on any kind of footing since they have to search on rubble, metal, and wood (training is often held at recycling centers). And they won’t quit—whether it’s retrieving a toy or searching for a person.

“Any dog who is going to succeed has to love it,” Melville says. “They would love any kind of work that you gave them. With positive reinforcement they’re trained, and they just have the greatest life.”

What she thought would be a six-month project became her life’s work. SDF has trained 160 search teams that have been deployed to 118 disasters and missing person searches around the world, including 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, the 2010 Haiti earthquake, and the 2011 Tohuku earthquake and tsunami in Japan. Plans are in the works to continue expanding with the opening of a National Training Center on 125 acres of donated land in Santa Paula, CA. Melville says one of the rewards of the success of SDF is to see “a dog that was tossed onto the trash heap” transform within nine months of SDF training to being skilled, happy, healthy, and attached to a handler with a real appreciation of their canine partner.

“When you see the respect that the handler has for the dog, you know you have a good team,” Melville says.

The volunteer handlers are usually firefighters who take on a dog in addition to their regular duties. Firefighters are ideal candidates to be SFD handlers because they are often the first to arrive at a disaster scene, are trained to cope with responding to a crisis, and their work schedules allow them to train with their dogs much more often than most civilians. To ensure a good match, SDF also interviews the family of a potential handler to make sure they would accept a dog into their home and support the firefighter in taking on extra, unpaid work. Once a handler is accepted into the program, SDF trains them to learn to work with their new dog to help build a successful team.

“Successful dogs are athletic, focused, bold, self-confident, and energetic.”

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PHOTOS FROM LEFT: ADRIAN BURKE, THERESA BARNS

Left: Skye finds his victim and sounds the “bark alert”. Right: Riley descends a steep ladder after searching the second floor of a collapsed building.

“The right dog is critical. The right handler is critical. And then both of them have to get the best training possible,” Melville says.

SDF Master Canine Trainer Sonja Heritage brings a unique perspective to her role because of her vast experience with disaster search; she was a FEMA handler for 16 years on Fairfax County’s Urban Search and Rescue Team in Virginia, as well as a FEMA instructor and evaluator before joining SDF in 2012. She has been deployed with her dogs to numerous disasters, including the U.S. embassy bombing in Kenya, the 1999 earthquakes in Turkey and Taiwan, the 2001 Pentagon attack, the Space Shuttle Columbia explosion, Hurricane Katrina, and the Haiti earthquake.

“Our canine teams responded to the Haiti earthquake as part of the Los Angeles County Urban Search and Rescue Team, which found and rescued 12 survivors that were buried in rubble. The dogs worked very well and played a big part in several of these rescues. We are very proud of these teams and the work that they did in Haiti,” Heritage says.

She’s witnessed many other “live finds” in her deployments as well.

“There is nothing like it—tears, goosebumps, camaraderie, exhaustion, and validation,” Heritage says. “It is incredible.”

Not only do the dogs help find survivors but they can bring comfort to other rescuers and onlookers who might need a few moments with a dog. And the dogs themselves enjoy the work.

Heritage says her current partner, a seven-year-old German Shepherd named Asta, “lives” for the opportunity to work.

“It’s not work to her—it’s a challenging, intensely active, highly rewarding game. She’s hyper-focused and loves it,” Heritage says.

“She’s a very smart, fast, and fearless search dog and she makes me look good… she’s bossy and has a great sense of humour. I just love working with her!”

Asta attends SDF training sessions each week to keep her skills sharp. She also teaches new handlers how to read behaviour and practice new skills. Handlers have to learn to trust their dogs because time is so critical in disaster search, so handlers must listen not only when a dog finds a survivor but also when the dog indicates no one is there so that they can search elsewhere.

“The stakes are incredibly high when the families are watching you work,” Heritage says. “Working with your dog under pressure is the epitome of a very special relationship.”

She says because no two disasters are alike, she always gets new ideas for training from deployments. In addition to basic

“These dogs are like racehorses: very hard to contain unless they have a place to focus all that enthusiasm. That puts them into shelters and often on the euthanasia list.

When I think of all the incredible dogs that we have trained here and what their fate would have been, it’s overwhelming.”

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A smile from Hunter, who helped find three young girls trapped in debris during the Haiti earthquake.

Heroes in the Rough

According to SDF Master Canine Trainer Sonja Heritage: “The dog must be one to two years old, a Lab, Border Collie, Shepherd, Belgian Malinois, Golden Retriever, Australian Shepherd or a mix of these breeds (Never say never but these breeds are the norm; exceptions are very few and far between), and not aggressive toward other dogs or people. They must be crazy for a ball or tug anywhere and with anyone, not just you in your own backyard. This means that nothing distracts them when that toy is out—nothing. And then, if you throw or place that toy out in tall grass, weeds, etc. without your dog seeing the area it landed, he will hunt for it with his nose until he drops or finds it, without ever being distracted. If you throw it in your garage he will hunt until he finds it—without any help from you. All these things should be very fast and intense without getting distracted or interrupted. If you have that, please call or email us a video!”

Visit searchdogfoundation.org/how_ to_help/donatedog.html or call the canine recruiters at (888) 4K9-HERO ext. 114 or email rescue@searchdogfoundation.org.

PHOTO KAREN NEWBILL

The National Disaster Search Dog Foundation offers rewards to people who locate dogs for their program. There is a video screening process that shelters and owners can use to see if their dog is a candidate.

Melville encourages people to be on the lookout for dogs who are “heroes in the rough” to help meet demand and save a life, since great search dogs aren’t always adoptable. obedience, she and her team train SDF dogs to learn to search off-leash for multiple victims who are completely buried and concealed from view. When they find a scent, they follow it to the exact location and bark at the spot until the handler arrives and gives a reward. The dogs also learn “extreme agility skills” involving ladders, chain link, tunnels, crawls, and wobbly props, and “direction and control,” in which the dog can take hand, voice, and/or whistle commands at a distance to move farther away, right, left or recall in a large field without distraction.

“Our dogs have been screened for very high toy possession, prey, and hunt drives… we allow the drives of the dog and his or her extreme desire for the reward to lead the dog into the behaviours we are looking for,” Heritage says. “It’s easy with the right dog!”

She says there is currently a two-year waitlist for handlers who want a dog, so she encourages people to be on the lookout for dogs who are “heroes in the rough” (see sidebar) to help meet demand and save a life, since great search dogs aren’t always adoptable.

“They are like racehorses: very hard to contain unless they have a place to focus all that enthusiasm. That puts them into shelters and often on the euthanasia list. When I think of all the incredible dogs that we have trained here and what their fate would have been, it’s overwhelming,” Heritage says. “We watch dogs that had no idea what selfcontrol is turn into finely tuned, highly driven working dogs and it’s breathtaking. They have a purpose—a destiny to do great things.” n Visit searchdogfoundation.org for more on the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation.

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Look

WHAT WE FOUND! Cool finds for dogs & the people who love them

13-25

$

Perfect for sunny days at the dog beach, this floating, flying Wham-O disc toy is what your fetchloving water dog wants to be playing with this summer. wham-opets.com

I Squeak!

15

$

These delightful, handcrafted tags in the shape of your chosen breed are made in the USA from mixed metals like copper, brass, and bronze. Each tag is hand cut so every tag is unique—just like your dog!

Different markings and colourations are available for each breed too. The silver swivel clasp attaches to pretty much anything so you can dog-ify anything from your keychain to your purse strap! pooch-tags.com

From

6

$

Meet Hip Cuz, the brand new addition to the beloved Cuz family of toys! This hard, natural rubber bouncy ball has feet and a tough squeaker, making him tough to beat! It comes in three sizes and four colours to delight your dog. jwpet.com

12

$

Yum! Maggie's Macaroons raw, organic coconut treats are not only delish, they’re incredibly healthy too! They’re excellent for skin, coat, and digestive health, and because they’re dairy-free, grain-free, and all natural, they’re great for dogs with allergies and sensitive tummies. But perhaps best of all, these treats are 100% human-grade meaning you can share them—they’re that yummy! cocotherapy.com

13

$

The Waterbone is a water sprinkler specifically designed for your dog! Just attach the blue end to any common garden hose and turn on the water! It sprays water just like a water sprinkler but it's made of non-toxic, durable, recycled plastic so dogs can pick it up safely in their mouths and move it around—no sharp metal bits or toxins! sukiapettoys.com

20

$

Keep your dog safe in the event of a fire or emergency.

This highly reflective sign from MasonBlue will alert firefighters and first responders to the presence of your dog. This lawn sign is a literal life saver! petfirerescuesigns.com

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10

$

Stop the jingling and jangling. Twigo’s Tag Silence Pocket covers and protects engraved tags and—ahhh—stops the noise.

Or go metal-free with Twigo Pet Tags. Soft and durable, you can personalize them instantly—simply write, boil, and attach. Perfect for vacations and pet sitters! twigotags.com

FUN IDEAS

Keep it Cool CHILL

OUT!

Fun summer ideas for you & your dog Their noses are particularly susceptible but dogs with little or no fur can easily get sunburned all over their bodies. Epi-Pet makes a broad-spectrum FDA-compliant sunscreen formulated especially for dogs (and horses too!) that is safe even if licked!

Find it at epi-pet.com/sunscreen.

Keep your hot dog cool on warm days. Take a regular bandana (cut it down to size if your dog is small) and run it under the tap before wringing it out, smoothing it into a triangle and placing it in the freezer. Leave it in there until it’s nice and icy cool or until the next hot day rolls around, then fasten around your dog’s neck for a welcome cool down!

PHOTO LINDSEY DONOVAN

Cool runnings

Frozen Make your dog the ultimate summer treat! Get

a container of your choosing, one matching your dog’s size. An empty yogurt or ice cream container is ideal but a bowl will totally do. Now get creative! Toss in all manner of treats and toys to thrill your dog: a squeaky rubber ball (not so small it could be swallowed, of course), a few blueberries, a small handful of little liver treats, bits of hot dog—the only rule of thumb is nothing that will get all soggy, like wheat-based treats. Then fill with water (you can add a bit of low-sodium beef or chicken broth if you’d like), pop it in the freezer, and wait until a hot afternoon to take it out. Briefly run the container under warm water to release the surprise-filled ice treat you’ve created then give it to your dog—outside of course!

PHOTO TANYA KING

Did you know dogs can get sunburns?

Maria Schultz, author of Sup With Pup, Stand Up Paddle Boarding her her dogs

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PHOTO MARIA SCHULTZ

Take to the water

The newest craze to hit lakes and oceans near you? SUP or Stand Up Paddle Board. Not only does this sport offer you a glorious vantage point from out on the water, it’s a lot of fun, and offers the bonus of abdominal strengthening as the balance it requires engages your core.

But best of all it’s dog friendly! The large board is perfect for bringing along your waterhappy dog! She can sit on the board as you paddle about. You'll definitely want to outfit your dog with a lifejacket. We like Outward Hound Life Jackets (from $20, kyjen.com). n

An exercise in enthusiasm

DOGS g ter do a w a Have r hands? on you oing to g She's y down get wa s gear! i with th

64 moderndog SUMMER

2015

THAT LOVE WATER

OH JOY!

To the beach!

Get wet and wild with Mammoth Treevers. These durable, doublestitched floating toys are great for heavy chewers, tuggers, and rough players, both in the water and off. Filled with all-natural granulated cork, reinforced with heavy-duty cotton canvas, and covered with soft and colourful neoprene, Treevers thrilled our retrievers! From $7, mammothpet.com

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!

H S A SPL

Go the distance!

For high flying, floating fun, you can't beat the new Chuckit! Ultra Sling with Ultra Dart Float fetch toy. This compact sling can shoot long or short distances, making it perfect for smaller yards or open parks and beaches. Pair it with the Ultra Dart Float, the companion rubber fetch toy designed to float and clad in high-visibility orange for easy tracking and spotting. Four other dart styles are available—if you're looking for rough play, erratic flight, or long-distance play, there's a dart for that too! Ultra Sling, $19; Ultra Dart Float, $9, chuckit.com

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THE PERFE C FIND F T SPRIN OR KLER DOGS!

Get wet!

Forget wet, stinky collars.

Your water-loving dog deserves a collar made especially for dogs that like to get wet! Hydro collars are no-stink, waterproof collars from the folks at Hot Dogs All Dressed. Super durable and super cute, they come in tons of colours with myriad decorative charm options, from totems to cupcakes, and they're super easy to clean, too, so they're great for dogs that like to get dirty, to boot. From $19, hotdogsalldressed.com

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Billed as the biggest, baddest dog ball out there, the Jolly Pet Push-n-Play is just that! It floats, it's a great exerciser (buy the extra large size for soccer-style play), and, with a screw plug that lets you fill it with water or gravel if you want to make it weightier, it's great for strong dogs. The biggest size is perfect for extra large dogs and it's guaranteed indestructible— glowing online reviews, like one from a thrilled Mastiff owner, provide further testimony. Comes in five sizes, 3" to 14", for dogs big to small. $5–$33, jollypets.com

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R E T A W !

Y B A B

PHOTOCONTEST ENTRY FINNEGAN SUBMITTED BY CLAUDIA LAGRIPPE

Float Your Boat!

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BODY & SOUL LOVE THIS!

The Majority Project We are the majority There are millions of Pit Bull owners across North America who live peaceful lives with their beloved family pets. Families like these are the rule, not the exception.

They are you, perhaps, or your co-workers, neighbours, and friends. And they are definitely the majority. Unfortunately, these everyday stories are not the ones that get told. Non-profit organization Animal Farm Foundation (AFF) aims to change that.

James and his dog Swami

Their new initiative, the Majority Project, is a photo collection of countless bully breed owners—no different than any other dog owner— and their adored dogs, smiling from the couch or romping in the yard, their everydayness highlighting the ridiculousness of stereotypes and discrimination. This is heartwarming stuff, people. We immediately wanted to participate.

To join the ranks, go to themajorityproject.com, print and personalize an “I am the MAJORITY” sign, and then submit a photo with your bully breed dog. Some of the photos will be chosen to appear in The Majority Project public service announcement, starring actor and bully breed owner Jon Bernthal to help raise awareness for the cause.

tooe! cut

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As AFF notes, breed-specific legislation (BSL) causes discrimination against dog owners based on their dog’s appearance and doesn’t make communities safer.

Though many cities have begun to abolish such laws, BSL is still enforced in some communities, (AFF has a handy Breed Specific Legislation Map on their site, animalfarmfoundation.org). As the Majority Project beautifully illustrates, the overwhelming majority of Pit Bull dog owners love and care for their pets in a responsible manner, including proper maintenance, control, and containment of their dogs. By treating all dogs as individuals and empowering pet owners to be responsible, we create communities that are safe and humane.

SU MMER 2015

BODY & SOUL

THE CREEPY CRAWLIES: FLEAS & TICKS Did you know?

Fleas can cause an allergic reaction called allergy dermatitis in some dogs and humans. Flea allergy dermatitis in dogs is characterized by severe itching—signs include constant scratching, chewing, licking, and whining.

As few as one or two flea bites a week can cause a reaction, and symptoms will often persist for a while even after some form of flea control has been used.

Symptoms of Lyme Disease in Dogs

Deer ticks are the type of tick most likely to carry Lyme disease. In its early phase, Lyme disease symptoms in people include fever, headache, fatigue, and a telltale circular rash that looks like a bull’s eye.

In general, the risk of a person developing Lyme disease after being bitten by a tick is only one to three percent, however, if you’ve removed an attached tick from yourself, inform your doctor.

· Fever, lack of appetite, and depression may accompany inflammation of the joints

In dogs, Lyme disease symptoms include recurrent lameness of the limbs due to inflammation of the joints. Some dogs may develop “shifting-leg lameness,” a condition characterized by lameness in one leg, with a return to normal function before another leg is affected. Some dogs may also develop kidney problems. If left untreated, total kidney failure sets in and the dog begins to exhibit such signs as vomiting, diarrhea, lack of appetite, weight loss, increased urination and thirst, fluid buildup in the abdomen, and fluid buildup in the tissues, especially the legs and under the skin.

· Superficial lymph nodes close to the site of the infecting tick bite may be swollen

Lyme disease, a bacterial infection, can be cured with antibiotics in almost all cases, even in later stages. Always keep ticks removed from yourself or your dogs for testing by your doctor or vet.

· Lameness · Stiff walk with an arched back · Sensitive to touch · Difficulty breathing

Twins!

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MD ResuPoll lts

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of Modern Dog readers think they look like their dog

PHOTO TANYA KING

Fleas prefer certain hosts, but they’re not picky. The dog flea (that would be ctenocephalicles canis) is just as happy to chow down on your ankles if that’s what is available.

BODY & SOUL

The Ontario SPCA’s No Hot Pets program aims to spread the word that leaving your dog unattended in a car can quickly turn deadly. Hot cars kill, and it can happen far faster than you’d think.

P

arked cars can quickly reach deadly temperatures, even on relatively mild days with the car parked in the shade and the windows slightly open.

Dogs have a limited ability to sweat; even a short time in a hot environment can be life threatening. A dog's normal body temperature is about 103°F (39°C); a body temperature of 106°F (41°C) can be withstood only for a very short time before irreparable brain damage or even death can occur.

If you can’t take your pet with you when you leave your car, leave them at home where they are safe. People who choose to leave pets unattended in vehicles may face charges.

PETA shares that every year, dogs suffer and die when their guardians make the mistake of leaving them in a parked car—even for “just a minute”—while they run an errand. Parked cars are deathtraps for dogs: On a 78°F day (25°C), the temperature inside a parked car can soar to between 100° - 120°F (37° - 48°) in just minutes, and on a 90°F (32°C) day, the interior temperature can reach as high as 160°F (71°C) in less than 10 minutes. Animals

Signs of Canine Heatstroke • • • •

Restlessness Heavy Panting Excessive thirst Excessive drooling

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• • • •

Thick saliva Dark tongue/reddened gums Lethargy Rapid heart rate

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can sustain brain damage or even die from heatstroke in just 15 minutes. Beating the heat is extra tough for dogs because they can only cool themselves by panting and by sweating through their paw pads.

If heat stroke is suspected (excessive panting and drooling, listlessness or unconsciousness) prompt veterinary medical attention is vital. In the meantime, wet the fur immediately with lukewarm to cool (not cold!) water. Bring the dog into the shade or, better yet, an air-conditioned environment, and offer drinking water.

If you see a dog in a hot car, immediately call the authorities and don’t leave the scene until the dog has been helped.

• Increased body temperature (above 103° F or 39° C) • Fever • Bloody diarrhea

• Production of only small amounts of urine or no urine • Vomiting • Lack of coordination

PHOTOS HANS SIPMA

#

NO HOT PETS

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PHOTOS 2014 ZUKES FUEL THE LOVE CAMPAIGN

BODY & SOUL

Fuel the Love Tag your dog’s photo to help cure canine cancer!

Zuke’s, maker of natural pet treats, has launched a very cool social media campaign. Now through June 30th, the Durango, Coloradobased company will donate $5 to The Dog and Cat Cancer Fund for every person who follows @ZukesPets on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook, and tags their action-packed dog photo with #FuelTheCure.

“Once you have had a wonderful dog, a life without one, is a life diminished.”

—Dean Koontz 76 moderndog

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PHOTOCONTEST ENTRY WOLFGANG SUBMITTED BY ES YOO

Zuke’s already donates a portion of all their sales to the Dog and Cat Cancer Fund, but this certainly ups the ante. Last year, the campaign raised over $5,000; this year’s goal is nothing less than $10,000. How cool is that?

SPECIAL PROMOTION

NATURAL DOG

Products to enhance a healthy canine lifestyle Opie & Dixie. Opie & Dixie Paw Balm saves paws. Year round, a dog’s paws are exposed to the elements. As summer is upon us, remember that hot scorching ground and pavement can do damage and cause pain. 100% natural, organic, healing Paw Balm soothes dry, cracked, calloused, and sore paw pads with ingredients that hydrate, heal, protect, and restore.

Also available in convenient Pawstik applicator. opieanddixie.com

Whimzees Natural Dog Treats are a great tasting and low fat chew that dogs love! Made from limited, vegetable-based ingredients, Whimzees special shapes help remove plaque and tartar while dogs chew. And they come in a variety of fun and functional shapes to make everyday a Whimzday! Visit whimzees.com.

Is your dog struggling with their mobility? The GingerLead Dog Support and Rehabilitation Harness improves quality of life, helping aging or disabled dogs with weak hind legs walk. Available for toy to giant breed dogs, it is recommended by veterinarians and made in the USA! Visit gingerlead.com to learn more.

Picky dog? Try Frenchie's Kitchen gently cooked, frozen meals for dogs. 100% whole food ingredients! Made in a USDA human food facility with the finest USA sourced ingredients.

If dogs could cook, this is what they'd serve. frenchieskitchen.com

I’M-YUNITY for Dogs. Improve your dog’s immunity and quality of life with I’m-Yunity and I’m-Yunity Too. Each contains proprietary medicinal mushroom extracts of Coriolus versicolor and/or Reishi mushroom to reduce pain and fatigue while improving energy levels, mobility, and appetite. Learn about clinical results at ImYunityForDogs.com and use code “moderndog” for a 5% discount!

Bailey’s Blend proprietary formula has shown remarkable results in fighting chronic disease, including cancer, and helping in prevention of degenerative diseases while increasing vitality!

Made in the USA from 100% all natural and organic herbs. Learn about their guarantee and read stories of how Bailey’s Blend has helped countless pets here: BaileysBlend.com. moderndogmagazine.com

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THINGS TO HELP YOU THROUGH PET LOSS GRIEF Words & Photos by Sarah Daloise

OSING A PET can be one of the most devastating experiences a guardian can go through. Grief is a profound emotion that challenges us to stop and honour our loss.

It asks us to take the time to heal. The following ideas may help you to navigate through this difficult process.

To share a tribute to your dog with Modern Dog readers, go to moderndogmagazine.com/memorial

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#1

Hold a Funeral, Memorial or Wake A ceremony can provide a formal setting in which to say your goodbyes, offering an outlet for expressing grief in a supportive, compassionate atmosphere. A funeral, memorial or wake can also give your fellow dog friends the chance to show their support and comfort you during your loss. Many pet crematoriums are now accommodating a wide variety of pet loss services, though you can also choose to hold a ceremony at home or at your dog’s favourite park.

#2

Connect with an Animal Communicator One session with a great animal communicator can provide immense relief from grief or other accumulated feelings such as guilt or anger.

Animal communication is an intuitive process that incorporates energy work. Do some research and be sure that you are working with a highly reputable communicator. After that, all that is needed is an open mind and a willingness to trust that there are people who, like our dogs, have maintained their ability to perceive more than meets the eye.

“Grief is not a disorder, a disease or a sign of weakness. It is an emotional, physical and spiritual necessity, the price you pay for love. The only cure for grief is to grieve.”—Earl Grollman

#3 Create a Tribute

#5

Seek Professional Support

Creative activities can be extremely cathartic and help you to move through your emotions. Projects such as photo books or videos are great ways to commemorate the relationship you had and the memories you hold. Piecing together custom shadow boxes with your dog’s toys, leash or collar is another great way to honour the connection you shared.

In the case of a prolonged decline in health, the months spent at veterinary appointments managing a dog’s illness can often overshadow the years of health and happy moments.

Creating a tribute gives you the space and time to reminisce over all of the good times you had together, from puppy breath through to the final moments.

Much of our social conditioning causes us to undervalue or negate how we feel. This can be compounded when those around us become uncomfortable with our outward expression of loss. Unfortunately, the tendency to suppress or ignore the messages of our emotions can have a negative impact on our physical and mental health.

Even when you have the support of friends and family, connecting with a professional who is empathetic to pet loss can make a world of difference in your overall wellbeing. Booking a session or two with a grief counselor, an EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) or BodyTalk Practitioner are all great ways to help you to fully experience and release your emotions in a healthy way.

#4 Take Leash Walks

#6 Open Your Heart

Simply walking is very grounding and therapeutic. Being outside in the fresh air can help to clear our heads and let go of thoughts that do not serve us. For months after the loss of my beloved dog Kirby, I continued to walk our favourite routes every day. I brought his leash with me, draping it over my neck and tucking it under my coat. It connected me to the bond we had shared and the memories I had of him. It became a daily act of letting go and accepting what is.

Familiar faces out walking their dogs will likely want to help you too. Stop to say hi to other people’s dogs. Neither will mind.

When you’re ready, consider welcoming another dog into your heart. There are so many great dogs sitting in shelters that are in need of homes. Though it may not feel like it to begin with, there is room in your heart for a new canine love, and welcoming a new dog into your household in no way diminishes your love for your departed friend—in fact, I think it’s a rather wonderful tribute. n

Sarah Daloise (shown here with her dog Kirby) is the creator of The Heeling Project: a Letter to My Dog. For more information on how you can participate, visit sarahanndogphotography.com moderndogmagazine.com

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INSPIRE

Want to Bring Your Dog to Work?

There's an official day to do it!

Here's how to make it a success

L

ive the dream: take your dog to work Friday, June 26, this year’s official Take Your Dog To Work Day! Modern Dog magazine is a proud event sponsor and we’ve got tips for making a success of your dog’s foray into the workforce!

Many businesses—even those not traditionally pet friendly—are opening their doors to employees’ dogs for this special day, making this a great opportunity to illustrate the well documented benefits of bringing your dog to work. (Think less stress and boosted employee moral.) Just how much of a draw is being able to bring your dog to work? A Modern Dog poll found a whopping 92% of respondents would accept a job with lesser pay if it meant they could bring their dogs to work with them. If employers want to make their employees happy, a dog-friendly workplace is definitely something to consider! But first things first: making that all-important first impression. Pet Sitters International, the mastermind behind this awesome annual event, shares…

4 Ways to Ensure Your Dog Has a Successful Job Shadowing Experience

1

3

2

4

Dogs should be kept on a leash, unless in the employee’s office or cubicle. Even the best-behaved dogs may not understand that not everyone loves puppy kisses or a pouncing pooch. Respect co-worker’s space by keeping your dog leashed when outside of your office or cubicle.

Co-workers who want to pet your dog will come to you.

Employees should use a baby gate to prevent dogs from leaving their office unsupervised. In the middle of an important sales call or during a visit from a business partner is not the best time for Fido to dash out of your office. Give your dog space to roam in your office while avoiding an unplanned escape by using a pet gate. Richell USA (richellusa.com) has a terrific selection.

Everyday is Take Your Dog to Work Day at the Modern Dog offices! Top left: Esther and Rose tackle the banking. Above: Rose handles the phones.

Specific areas, such as bathrooms or employee dining halls, should be designated as dog-free. Even on Take Your Dog To Work Day, there will be limitations to where your dog can roam. Work with management and co-workers to decide which areas of the office will be dog free.

Have a back-up plan for taking your dog home if he is not comfortable in the work environment. While most dogs love spending a day at the office, it may be that your dog is not ready to enter the workforce. Have a back-up plan, such as a spouse, friend or professional pet sitter who can take care of your dog if he needs to leave the office.

Created in 1995, Take Your Dog to Work Day encourages employers to experience the joys of pets in the workplace for one special day to celebrate the great companions dogs make and promote adoptions from local shelters, rescue groups, and humane societies.

Interested in participating? Download a free action pack at TakeYourDog.com!

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!

G e t In sp i r e d

INSPIRATION CARDS Pocket-sized cards to stick on your fridge or use as a bookmark Photograph by SarahAnn Dog Photography

Dogs do speak, but only to those who know how to listen.

•

When an 85 pound mammal licks your tears away, then tries to sit on your lap, it's hard to feel sad.

•

—Orhan Pamuk

—Kristan Higgins

The least I can do is speak out for those who cannot speak for themselves.

Saving one dog will not change the world, but surely for that one dog, the world will change forever.

•

—Jane Goodall

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•

—Karen Davison

eat D.I.Y.

Juice Pulp Dog Treats

Make these with leftover juice pulp!

If you’ve jumped on the juicing bandwagon, you’re enjoying amazing, fresh, homemade juices, but likely wondering: isn’t there something I could be doing with all the leftover juice pulp?

Well wonder no longer! You can make these little, healthy, fiberrich, low-calorie dog treats! Susan Powers of rawmazing.com, a fantastic raw food blog, shares this dog-approved recipe.

I

was looking at the dwindling doggie treat jar and the pups expanding waistlines and made a decision. I would accept the juice pulp challenge and make doggie treats from the pulp!

WHAT YOU NEED •

8 cups juice pulp (make sure you don’t have anything toxic to dogs in your pulp*)

•

1 cup sunflower seeds

•

1 cup ground flax soaked in 2 cups water for ½ hour

•

¼ cup nama shoyu (optional)

HOW-TO 1.

Mix all ingredients together and spread on non-stick sheets ¼ inch thick.

2.

Score into 1-inch squares.

3.

Using a dehydrator, dehydrate at 145° F for 1 hour, reduce heat to 115 ° F and continue to dry until completely dry, flipping once during dehydration, approximately 12–14 hours. Makes two trays. Store the treats in a glass jar in a dark cupboard and they should keep for weeks.

I started collecting my leftover pulp and placed it in the freezer. When I had a significant amount (only three juicings), I pulled it out, let it thaw and started making these little treats. With the addition of sunflower seeds and flax, I created a jar full of treats that the pups went wild for and wouldn’t pack on the pounds. I think this is a winner. * IMPORTANT NOTE: There are some fruits and veggies that are toxic to dogs. Please make sure you don’t include these in your treats. Onions and grapes are two huge no-no’s as they’re poisonous to dogs. Oranges are okay but many dogs don’t love the taste of citrus. Here are just a few of the good-for-dogs fruit and veg pulp you can try:

If you don't have a dehydrator, you can use your oven. Set it to the lowest setting—usually 140° F, use a non-stick ovenready pan, and keep the door open. If you have an oven fan, turn it on to keep the air flowing. Note that the timing will be different when using an oven versus a dehydrator.

You may need to “dehydrate” for less than half the recommended time—get in there and check periodically.

Keep in mind they need to be really dry to keep—Ed. For fruit & veg that are good for dogs, go to: moderndogmagazine.com/fruitfordogs moderndogmagazine.com/goodveggielist

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• Carrot • Kale • Cucumber

W

• Apple (not seeds) • Lettuce • Celery

ant to get started juicing?

Get yourself a home juicer! We love our Breville Juice Fountain Compact. In Bon Appetit’s January issue round-up of best home juicers, this model took first place for value, space, assembly, extraction quality, ease of use, and clean up, something we definitely second on all counts.

Super-easy to use, quick to clean up, and lightning fast in its dispatch of whole bunches of carrot or handfuls of kale, the Breville Juice Fountain Compact has us juicing up a storm. $100, brevilleusa.com or $150, breville.ca

• Spinach • Melons • Pear

P H OTO S U SA N P OW E R S

Recipe by Susan Powers of rawmazing.com

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INSPIRE!

Living the Dream Get ready to be inspired. Rachel Brathen—yoga teacher, world traveller, rescuer of dogs—is the real deal. If you're looking for the courage to follow your dreams, read on to find out how one woman forged her own path to love, happiness, and crazy success.

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Dogs + Yoga + Love Rachel Brathen, aka Yoga Girl, is on a mission

By Jennifer Nosek Photographed by Ben Kane

T

here’s something about Rachel Brathen, aka Yoga Girl, a handle you’ll be familiar with if you happen to be one of the 1.4 million people that follow her on Instagram. The Aruba-based yoga practitioner and workshop leader is undeniably nothing short of a sensation, winning hearts not only with her message of love and self-acceptance (a recent post simply repeated “You are enough” over and over and over again) but also with her tremendous passion for dogs and her commitment to rescue.

One could chalk up her popularity to the beautiful, aspirational photos of handstands and other advanced yoga postures in far-flung tropical locations, or the inspirational posts in which she shares personal details of her enviable life. Yes, she’s gorgeous, in the most effortless and natural and appealing way. And yes, her life is the stuff of daydreams (more on that to follow), but it’s somehow more than the sum of all this that has won her a devoted following. The headlong mix of inspirational and aspirational have us dreaming of booking the next flight to Aruba. (By the way, if you go, Rachel will help you transport a rescue dog back!)

Hers is certainly a romantic story. Following a troubled childhood in Sweden and a stint as a young adult in Costa Rica, Rachel travels home to regroup and agrees to go on a family trip to Aruba. There she meets Dennis, a guy working at the local surf/skate shop, and the rest, as they say, is history. After spending just a couple days together, Rachel returns to Costa Rica to pack up her stuff and moves to Aruba. There, though at this point only self-taught, Rachel begins teaching yoga on the beach and sharing posts of poses and her life in Aruba via Instagram. She starts to build a following, but it’s not until she hits a rough patch in her relationship and begins sharing unfiltered meditations on how she is feeling and some of the trials and difficulties that she is experiencing that her following really takes off. Something about her openness regarding her struggles, combined with everything else, touches people, makes a connection, and she blows up.

What follows is a magical, crazy trajectory of travels and workshops and book deals and media appearances and, being a girl after our own hearts, a rescue initiative named in memory of her dog Pepper.

We caught up with Rachel over Skype (rainy Vancouver connecting with sunny Aruba via spotty internet connection) and then again during her three-month-long North American book tour that saw her hit the east coast and the Pacific Northwest, with many, many stops in between. Along the way there were back-to-back sold out yoga workshops, a ton of hugs given… oh, and her book, Yoga Girl, named for her Instagram persona, hit the New York Times bestseller list.

Accompanying her on this whirlwind tour were her loves: Dennis, to whom she is now married, and Ringo the Gringo, her beloved Italian Greyhound who is one of the six dogs she currently shares her home in Aruba with.

“We really wanted a dog that was small enough to travel,” Rachel shares, estimating moderndogmagazine.com

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P H OTOS B E N K A N E

Ringo has now been to 30 countries. “We travel so much right now. He’s become our little anchor. Whenever he’s with us I never get homesick. I wanted an Italian Greyhound forever. They call them the Velcro dogs—they stick to you like Velcro.”

At her Vancouver workshop, which took place at the Commodore and was one of the two sold out workshops she did there that day, her fans gathered, yoga mats in tow. The line snaked around the block. Rachel was charming and radiant, greeting the assembled crowd, answering questions, and then leading everyone through a 90-minute practice, during which Ringo roamed the room freely, wandering among the 200-plus workshop participants and prompting laughter.

Rachel is well known for her love of animals so Ringo’s presence was not only expected but delighted in. In the wrap up Q-and-A, one woman asked Rachel about her dogs, a topic Rachel happily dove into, sharing that “Quila, my dog from Costa Rica, is Alex Dunphy,” likening her dog to the smart, slightly nerdy middle daughter in Modern Family, a comparison that drew laughter and nods of recognition. With six dogs at home (her and Dennis’ three—Ringo, Quila, and Laika—two visitors, and one rescued stray, Sammy, who is recuperating until he can be re-homed), it took her a while to answer the question.

“I started this foundation,” she said, speaking of Sgt. Pepper’s Friends, an initiative dedicated to using social media for animal rescue across the globe. “I want to save all dogs—no dog left behind—but then I would have no home, all rooms filled with dog poop, and my husband would divorce me,” she jokes. “You need balance.” They have implemented a two-week rule: Rachel can take in any dog, but they need to be re-homed in two weeks.

With six dogs at present, there is necessity behind such an arrangement—mostly because it's imperative to make room to take more dogs in!

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Rachel isn’t the only yogi in the family; her dogs love the practice too. “All three of them they just absolutely love, love, love the mat,” she says. “During my practice Ringo just floats in and out and sometimes he gets tired and falls asleep under my Down Dog or he comes and lies on my belly in Savasana. Here every morning it’s the same thing. For the dogs it’s like their playtime.

This is the moment I’m on the same level as them.”

Rachel even taught doga—that would be yoga with dogs—for a while. “In the beginning of the class everything is chaos, like it’s complete chaos. And the funny thing is, the more the owners start centering themselves, the calmer the dogs become. You can really see that reflection from the owner to the dog. And by the end of the class all the dogs are sleeping, every single one! It’s a fun thing to do at home, incorporating your dog. It’s a really nice experience to see how important our energy is and what it does to our dogs.”

As for energy, Rachel has posted extensively about coping with her own grief, both when she lost her best friend last year, and when her dog Pepper passed away unexpectedly. “I think, for people who aren’t dog owners, they will never understand,” she says from experience. “You can only talk about the grief of losing your pet to another dog owner who really gets it. Other people… I got some weird comments, like ‘it’s not like he was your child or your baby,’ you know, comparing it to the loss of a child, but for me it really, really was. He really was our little baby. He was only four years old. It was way, way, way too soon for him to go. It was such an unexpected thing… he didn’t show a single sign that he was sick and then within three days he just died. And for me, I lost my best friend earlier that same year. I’ve come to realize now that Ringo’s death within that big grief of my friend dying was like another level of pain. Learning how to go in and sit with that pain and knowing that it’s not the

absence of love, it’s the presence of love, just the absence of a physical being. If it wasn’t for all the love you felt you wouldn’t feel that pain.”

Like many of us, Rachel had to work through guilt, feeling that she should have known Pepper was sick, could have done something. Ultimately, though, she came to this realization: “They give us so much in such a short time and when they’ve got to go, they’ve got to go. It’s out of our control most of the time. So just take that love and channel it to something. You can make something good.”

Rachel certainly has: Sgt. Pepper’s Friends was born of grief.

“Sgt. Pepper was my and my husband’s first little baby, found in a trash can, literally, three weeks old, half alive,’ Rachel says.

“When we lost Pepper, I knew I wanted to start an organization in his name. With all the social media traction we have, I figured it was a really good way to use this, especially for the island here where we live. There’s such a huge issue [with stray dogs].

Her success rate is mind-blowing. “Every single dog I’ve posted so far has gotten a home in, like, a minute,” she says. “For every dog we’ve had an average of 50 to 100—in some instances 300—emails from people wanting to take the dog in. Which means there’s a huge amount of people out there that want a dog, that are willing to open up their homes but they just don’t have that bridge to find these dogs in need.”

She aims to be that bridge: “They follow me on Instagram and they see, ‘Oh my God, there’s this dog that needs a home, I’ll take it!’

With the Aruban shelter always overflowing and a dearth of homes locally, her strategy is to re-home dogs elsewhere. “We’ll have a dog and we make sure the dog is healthy and fit to travel and fit to find a home. The average cost to get a dog from here to the States is about $300 and that includes all the shots and the neutering and spaying and the crate and the flight—all of that.

So what I want to do now is start raising some serious money so that we can do this—make the process quicker and do this every single day.”

To this end, they have had bracelets made that people are going to be able to buy, with all proceeds going to the organization. A website, sgtpeppersfriends.com, is in the works, but in the meantime supporters can follow @sgtpeppersfriends on Instagram or go to rachelbrathen.com for more info.

And if you’re looking for an excuse to take a vacation… “The hard part now is we need to find people to fly—the dog can’t fly alone," Rachel explains. “It’s a good place to come, have a little vacation, and then come home with a dog!”

And why not? As we dog people can attest, our dogs give us so much in return.

“My dogs are my biggest teachers,” Rachel laughs. “They are such present animals. I just love the simplicity of a dog’s life.

They have warmth and love and some attention, and food and water, and everything is so great—not just good and okay but, like, amazing. As human beings, we’re so complex; we start drama and everything can become negative or such a big deal, but from the eyes of a dog, it’s really simple—it’s a good day, the sun is shining—and I think there are a lot of lessons in that.” n

“It’s a good place to come, have a little vacation, and then come home with a dog!”

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{Editor’s Pick} How cool are these handmade, nauticalinspired Lasso rope collars made from 100% cotton or recycled rope and fitted with brass fixtures? Just be prepared to deliberate over which delightful colour combo to choose. $35, lassopr.com

HOT DOG!

Celebrate summer with this lovely pink and green print collar from Jeanamichelle. Handmade, stylish, and sorbet-coloured? We’re sold! $20, etsy.com/ shop/jeanamichelle

What says summer like a bright, fun, and durable nylon collar?

Fabdog's bright stripes, polkadots, and chevron patterns fit the bill! $24, fabdog.com

These are some cool collars!

Whether it's the urban jungle or the great outdoors you and your dog are exploring, this leather camouflage collar is right at home. Lined with sturdy bridle leather and finished with antiqued hardware, it's a thing of beauty—just like your dog! From $23, auburndirect.com

Freshen up your dog’s look with these awesome new Multi Collars! Changeable trim straps attach to a base collar, letting you switch up your dog’s style in seconds! From $12, multicollars.com

This collar is for the big dog in your life who loves style! Every Paco collar is a work of art and this one is certainly no exception. The handmade Giant Elvis collar is sized for dogs with a neck larger than 16 inches. Each one is handcrafted and thus unique, so your big guy will truly be one of a kind! (Also available in smaller sizes.) From $325, pacocollars.com

Pups ahoy! Your seafaring pooch will look adorable in this ribbon and nylon webbing collar with lobster-and helm print from Danes and Divas.

The perfect accessory for summer! $24, danesanddivas.com

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Want a balanced, calm, and happy dog?

Satisfy his instincts!

The Best Exercise For Your Dog’s Breed

Australian Shepherd Earl at an Ultimate Air Dogs Canada event (ultimateairdogscanada.ca)

PHOTO ERIKA A. PHOTOGRAPHY

Breed-appropriate activities let dogs focus their energy as they were bred, often times over centuries, to do.

Most breeds were bred to do something specific, be it ferret out critters (the Dachshund, for one), round up sheep (most famously, the Border Collie) or retrieve fallen birds (retrievers of all ilk). Fulfill your dog’s instinctual breed-based needs to satisfy an ingrained desire to perform certain behaviours by trying out one of the activities below. High-energy dogs in particular will benefit by engaging in exercises that fulfill the needs of their breed.

Toys Lap dogs like the Papillion, Pekingese, Maltese, and

Chihuahua still need their exercise! Though small, many of these breeds can and do excel at agility. Many also love chasing and retrieving toys.

Working breeds

Breeds in this group include sled dogs like the Samoyed and Alaskan Malamute, people-helpers like the St. Bernard (picture the classic image of a St. Bernard, flask Bred to sniff down and dig out prey, the around his neck, atop a snowy feisty and energetic members of the peak), and canine powerhouses terrier group—the Norfolk and Airedale like the Rottweiler. Great activities Terriers are two examples—are active for the large, strong members of this group include skijoring, an dogs. Earthdogging, a sport in which dogs activity in which a harnessed dog pulls a person on skis (especially navigate a series of tunnels constructed through the earth in order great for Northern breeds!), cart pulling (If your dog’s ancestors to reach their “prey” (no animals harmed), is an ideal activity. (For more on this sport, check out moderndogmagazine.com/earthdogs.) were used for pulling, your dog may love cart pulling), or simply wearing a backpack on a hike.

They’ll also love playing hide and seek for treats.

Terriers

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PHOTO HEATHER JAMISON/IWPA.NET

Members of this breed group, which includes the Border Collie, Australian Cattle Dog and Australian Shepherd want nothing more than a task to perform. Agility, which requires participants to wend their way through a series of obstacles, is a natural fit for these smart dogs that want a job to do. Another partner-work activity these intelligent breeds excel at is Canine Musical Freestyle, a sport in which you and your dog perform a highly choreographed series of moves set to music (Google it!).

PHOTO DINA GOLDSTEIN

Herding breeds

PHOTOS FROM LEFT: LINDSEY DONOVAN; FACEBOOK POST LEONARDO SUBMITTED

BY TANYA ROWAN; FACEBOOK POST LLCOOLJ SUBMITTED BY CRYSTAL MULLER

Sporting Dogs Non-Sporting Dogs Non-sporting dogs are a diverse group, with members ranging from the Dalmatian to the Boston Terrier (not in fact a terrier) to the Lhasa Apso. Some members, like the Bulldog, will be happiest with more low-key activities, while others, like the Poodle, are natural athletes and excel at all manner of activities, from agility to Dock Docks.

Hounds With their keen noses, dogs in the Hound Group—think the Beagle, American Foxhound, and Treeing Walker Coonhound—were bred to track game. They’ll get way down with scent work of all type, which is essentially tracking.

Turn to page 26 for eight fun scent-based games to get you started. For sight hounds (The Greyhound, the Afghan hound) it doesn't get more fun that lure coursing, a sport that involves chasing a mechanically operated lure.

This group includes retrievers, pointers, setters, and the larger spaniels. Bred to find and retrieve small game, these smart, athletic dogs thrive on plenty of exercise. Most love anything fetch-related and are natural Dock Dog (jumping after a tossed toy into the water) and Disc Dog (essentially Frisbee taken to the ultimate level) participants. Or keep it informal and grab a disc and head to the park. Most dogs in this group make excellent running and biking partners too. n

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eat D.I.Y.

7

!

YUMFILL T JUS & EZE FRE

1. Frozen Yogurt Buy plain or fruit-flavoured yogurt (just make sure it’s naturally sweetened and flavoured—no artificial flavours or sweeteners please!) then freeze dollops on a parchment covered cookie sheet. Or, if your dog is large, simply freeze the whole mini yogurt container! The probiotics in yogurt are great for digestion and can help with gas. Note: go slow when first feeding yogurt to your dog; like humans, some dogs are lactose intolerant.

2. Baby Food Freezie Most dogs LOVE baby food—just make sure it doesn’t contain any onion/ onion powder as onion is toxic to dogs.

Freeze in mini muffin cups for a cool little treat. (If your dog is little, fill the mini muffin cup only part way.)

3. Hot Dog, Cool Bites Cut a hot dog cross-wise into little rounds, toss in a Ziplock then freeze. These are great to bring along in a little bag for summer outings or to use as a high value training treat!

4. Frozen Liver Cut raw, organic* beef or chicken liver into little bite-sized pieces then place on a cookie sheet covered in parchment paper.

Once frozen, keep in the freezer in a Ziplock bag. Most dogs are crazy for liver but only give your dog a piece or two daily; organ meats should be fed sparingly. *The liver is the body’s filtration system, meaning this is where antibiotics and hormones will concentrate, so buy organic!

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Quick, cool freezer treats you can make for your dog in mere minutes!

Moder nD test kit og c approve hen d!

5. Cottage Cheese Cooler Choose the low-fat variety. Freeze little dollops on a parchment coated cookie sheet, or make little “pupsicles” by mixing a spoonful of cottage cheese into no-sodium chicken or beef broth then freeze in an ice cube tray.

Feed sparingly until you determine how well your dog handles dairy.

6. Frozen Egg Throw an egg—shell and all—into your blender and blend till smooth. The shell is a great source of calcium! Freeze in an ice cube tray (fill a maximum of half way; less for a smaller-sized dog). Feed just one of these little treats a day as too much raw egg is well, too much, and can hinder proper nutrient absorption.

7. Organic Chicken Broth Popsicle Simply freeze low-sodium (or, better yet, no sodium) chicken or beef broth in an ice cube tray and you’ve got an easy hot weather treat for your dog! Or up the fun by freezing the broth in a stuffable toy like a Kong. Plug the end with peanut butter then use a piece of tape to make extra sure the broth doesn’t leak out before it’s frozen. Have some leftover meat in the fridge? Add it to the broth to jazz it up a bit!

Freezing in a Kong makes the fun last as the tasty treat inside will slowly melt as your dog licks at it. (This is obviously best served outside.) *If your dog seems disinterested when these first come out of the freezer, just wait a minute for them to melt a little bit and the delicious flavours to come out!

PHOTOS JENNIFER NOSEK

Summer Freezies

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NO MATTE R WHAT SIZ E!

GEAR

HOW TO BIKE WITH YOUR DOG

Cool accessories that let you bring your dog—big or small—along for the ride Bring your dog along for the ride no matter Has the desire to bring your small dog along kept you from biking? With this what size! Now you can nifty system, you can now bike to the dog park or to your dog-friendly office, bike to the off-leash dog like Modern Dog’s Editor-in-Chief does! The Sleepypod Air carrier, ideal for beach rather than drive. dogs up to 15 pounds, securely and quickly clips to the Sleepypod Sidekick The Petego Sport Wagon Bike Rack. This front-mounted stainless steel bike rack is designed for Ultralight Bike Trailer easily balance and maneuverability and the carrier is super comfy. We can attest: attaches and detaches you and your dog will have a wonderful to your bike or can be summer biking around together with transformed into a stroller. this beautiful combo. Air carrier $160; Super strong yet light, it supports Sidekick bike rack, $125, sleepypod.com over 165 pounds. Zip doors on four sides permit easy access to your dog, a sunroof allows access from the top, and large side windows made of clawproof polyester mesh offer a view. And it easily collapses and folds down to 6 inches thick for quick transport and storage. Pedal power to the beach! $460, petego.com

The Springer Dog Exerciser is a godsend for dogs that need lots of exercise! It attaches to most bikes, letting you safely and easily cycle side-by-side with your dog. A heavy-duty spring absorbs up to 90 percent of unexpected tugs so you can keep your balance and a patented safety release frees your dog instantly if he gets caught around a tree or hydrant.

If you have a dog that likes to run, try the Springer! It’s been used by over half a million happy dogs and people, including the K9 corps. $130, springeramerica.com

GO! 96 moderndog

Bike With Your Dog: How to Stay Safe and Have Fun by J. Leslie Johnson is a comprehensive guide to dog-biking, including everything you need to know, from conditioning your dog to the special challenges of cycling in winter. Find it at friesenpress.com/bookstore.

Get started biking with your dog! Check out moderndogmagazine.com/dog-biking-beginners

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8Things More

Humans Do That Annoy Dogs Are you guilty of any of these interspecies relations faux pas?

Read on to find out!

By Steve Duno Illustration by Kim Smith

1 Over or Under Exercise

A walk or two and a game of fetch is all the exercise that’s usually needed for most dogs. But sometimes our lives become too busy, resulting in us skipping these sessions. Without them, your dog can become bored, destructive, despondent, and overweight. The simple solution: commit to a reasonable amount of exercise for your dog each day.

The opposite problem can also occur. Fit persons who go for daily runs of several miles often take their dogs with them for company. But extended runs can for some dogs be annoying or even harmful, depending on the age, breed-type, and temperament of the dog, For instance, an English Bulldog should not be running five miles a day, ever. Nor should heavy breeds such as the Mastiff or toy breeds like the Chihuahua. Dogs older than eight should be okayed by a veterinarian before running more than a mile or two.

If you want to run with your dog, be sure she is of a breed-type able to do so. Sight hounds, most herding and sporting dogs (excluding shortstatured spaniels and heavy retrievers), and most breed types with long legs and a lithe, muscular frame often make happy running partners.

But even for these dogs, runs over five miles can be harmful in the long term. Worn pads and structural issues can lead to medical intervention and shortened lives. Finding a nice balance of exercise for your dog is the key: remember, it’s for her, not you. In general, if your dog is lagging behind, you’ve taken her too far.

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2 Incomprehensible Requests

Enough with the monologue. Dogs definitely understand words associated with certain actions, behaviours, and things, but do not get grammar, syntax, or abstract meaning. Nevertheless, we often talk to our dogs at length, thinking that they get what we are asking them to do. This is, of course, totally fine—unless you’re trying to communicate what you’d like them to do.

Apart from enjoying the tone of our voices, our dogs don’t often get what we are driving at. They are much better at reading body language or keying in on specific words. If you need to get something across, don’t jabber away for five minutes or chastise him about something he can’t possibly understand. Be precise with words and tone and always use body posture (think hand signals, such as a hand in the air to request a lie down, or crouching to request “come”, or running away to get your dog to accompany you) whenever possible. Doing so will help you communicate exactly what you want without confounding your pooch and leaving him at a loss as to what you’d like of him. Our dogs aim to please; our job is to give them the tools to do so.

3 Forced Socialization

If your dog is happy to be introduced to new people and pets, then by all means, let her enjoy interacting. But if she is reserved and anxious, forcing her to interact can be annoying or even dangerous. Allow your dog to decide when she wants to come over to investigate a new person. When that happens, have the friend drop a treat on the floor and say “good girl.” When introducing your not-super-social dog to a new canine friend, instead of throwing them together, opt for going for a group walk before a dog-to-dog greeting. Form a single-file line with three or four dog/ human teams and simply walk around the block. This creates a team feeling among the dogs and slowly desensitizes them to group encounters. After a few blocks, if you think your dog is comfortable enough to greet, go for it. Just never force her to interact: instead, let her demeanor guide your actions.

5 Manhandling

Children are fast, unpredictable, and impulsive, and can often worry or annoy a dog, especially one unused to their unpredictable and exuberant natures. Kids might chase, pull on ears or tails, try to ride a big dog (a HUGE no-no!), or even take away a toy. Any of these can result in a bite to the hands or face.

Before you have children over, talk to their parents first, so they can explain protocol to the youngsters. When they come over, let your dog greet them casually, and have them give her a treat or two. Then, simply maintain a calm atmosphere. If the children want to play hard and your dog seems concerned, put her in a room that’s off-limits to the kids.

4 Dirty Water

In addition to collecting dust, food bits, hair, and other undesirable flotsam and jetsam, your dog’s water can become contaminated with bacteria or other contagions, especially if other dogs drink from it. Outdoor bowls can be especially vulnerable to contamination or to a forgetful person allowing them to go dry.

Fetid water or a dry bowl is a sure way to annoy a thirsty dog.

Every day, clean then refill your dog’s water bowls with fresh water. If a new dog comes to visit, provide it with a separate bowl, to prevent infections from passing to your pet. According to a Kansas State University veterinary study, communal water bowls can become infected with infectious agents, including giardia, parvovirus, leptospirosis, and other dangerous contaminants, so steer clear of public water bowls!

6 Too Much Noise

According to a Louisiana State University study, dogs have a range of hearing nearly twice that of humans. This allows them to hear much higher sounds than us, which is why playing entertainment devices too loudly can cause dogs to seek out a far corner of the home for peace and quiet.

Even a loud, boisterous crowd watching a sports event on TV can create anxiety in some dogs.

Respect your dog’s sensitivity to sound, and keep radios, televisions, and other noise producing devices set to a reasonable volume. If you’re having a party with loud music, move your dog as far from the noise as possible.

7 Too Many Baths

No one wants a smelly dog in their home.

But dogs were not meant to be bathed as often as humans bathe. If their skin and coat are robbed of their natural oils too often, both will become dry and unhealthy.

Dry skin can lead to chronic scratching, hot spots or full-on dermatitis.

Most dogs don’t like to be bathed, because it requires them to have their bodies soaked down and handled while they remain vulnerable. Most dogs dislike having their feet and legs handled, and despise getting soap in their eyes. Plus, many people fail to use warm enough water when bathing their dogs.

If he smells or is clearly dirty, then go for it. But don’t schedule a weekly bath just because you think it’s appropriate. Instead, brush and comb your dog daily. This allows you to remove dirt, dead hair, and skin.

When you do bathe your dog, brush and comb first to remove tangles. Then use warm (not hot) water and a mild dog-formulated shampoo. (We like John Paul Pet’s Oatmeal Shampoo Sensitive Skin Formula for dogs and cats. It gently cleanses, soothes dry skin and coats, and smells lovely. And every single Paul Mitchell and John Paul Pet product is cruelty free. Get yourself some shampoo while you’re at it and say no to animal testing!—Ed).

8 Dinner Time Interruptions

You should of course be able to pick up the doggy dish when necessary without any resistance from your dog, so teach her that picking up the dish will always result in a good consequence. With the dish empty first, pick up the dish, place a treat in it, and put it down. Repeat this often. Then randomly do the same while your dog is eating. But once this behaviour is well established, minimize dish handling and let your pooch feast. If someone kept touching your plate during dinner, you’d get annoyed.

The same applies to dogs for whom dinner time is their favourite time of day. Once your dog begins to eat, respect her bliss and let her be. Place the dish in a low-traffic area, and instruct all family members to let the dog eat in peace. n moderndogmagazine.com

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Dogs Can Read That Smile on Your Face…

your d is rea og ing you ld a booike k

Think your dog doesn’t know how you’re feeling? Think again.

A new study shows dogs can recognize emotions simply by looking at a human face.

By Stanley Coren

W

hen you and I look at a photograph of a human face, we can easily recognize the emotional state of the person pictured by their expression alone.

Fascinatingly, it turns out, dogs can do the same.

Several years ago I visited the laboratory of a colleague, a well-known researcher in the area of human emotions. He was putting together a display for an exhibition and had prepared several oversized photographs of one person showing a variety of emotional expressions. The photos were resting on the floor, propped up against the wall so that he could select the ones that he wanted. I had my young Beagle, Darby, with me and, in the way that dogs do, Darby walked along the line of pictures sniffing and glancing at each–that was, until he reached the one showing an angry expression, at which point he stopped, looked at the photo and then backed away and did not approach it again.

I wondered whether Darby was reading the emotion in that angry expression and thus avoiding the picture, but there was no data at that time showing dogs possessed the degree of sensitivity needed to read emotions solely based on the expression shown by a human face. Since then, however, researchers have found that dogs are indeed capable of discriminating emotion from photographs of faces alone. A new study offers very interesting further proof.

There is no doubt that dogs watch humans, read their emotional reactions, and modify their behaviours on the basis of what they see. If you observe a dog owner who is insecure around large men, say, or is anxious and shies away from crowds, you may well find his dog also acts uneasy and apprehensive around those same types of people or circumstances. That the dog is interpreting the emotions of his owner and connecting them to the things his person is reacting to has been demonstrated in the laboratory. In one study, Dr. Sarah Marshall-Pescini and her team of psychologists at the University of Milan arranged a situation where a dog and owner entered a room that had an oscillating fan on the floor. The fan was rigged out with plastic streamers attached to it and these flapped in the air current as the fan moved back and forth. If the dog owner approached the fan and acted interested and amused, the dog responded positively as well. In such a situation the dog was apt to come close to the fan and behave in a curious and interested manner.

On the other hand, if the person responded in a fearful way and seemed worried about the fan then the dog tended to stay on the far side of the room and treated the fan as if it made him nervous and uncomfortable. However, in this study, as well as most of the other research in which investigators have tried to see how well dogs read human emotions, the scientists used a lot more than simply a photograph of a human face. Not only did the people in these previous studies make facial expressions, they also used their voices and their body language to convey positive or negative emotions. To correctly interpret emotion from a static representation of a face alone, such as in a photograph, requires moderndogmagazine.com

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a fairly subtle level based on their prior of interpretation, knowledge of the however, new meaning of human research shows emotional expresdogs capable of sions, stating, “We exactly that. think the dogs in The new study our study could Dogs can distinguish angry and happy expressions that has been accepted have solved the task for publication in the in humans. They can tell that these two expressions only by applying their journal Current Biology set knowledge of emotional have different meanings, and they can do this, out to determine whether expressions in humans not only for people they know well, but even dogs are able to read to the unfamiliar pictures human emotions just by we presented to them.” for faces that they have never seen before. looking at a person’s face.

Ludwig Huber, a The team of researchers senior author on the was headed by Corsin Müller from the Messerli Research Institute research team, added some additional interpretation: “Our study at the University of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna. The investigademonstrates that dogs can distinguish angry and happy exprestors trained a group of 11 dogs to distinguish between images of sions in humans. They can tell that these two expressions have the same person making either a happy or an angry face. The different meanings, and they can do this, not only for people first thing to note is that the dogs did not get to see the full face. they know well, but even for faces that they have never seen Each dog was shown only the upper half or the lower half of before.” What exactly those different meanings are for the dogs the person’s face. For each dog, one expression, happy or angry, is not directly addressed by the study; however, Huber suggests was chosen to be the correct one, and the dog had to indicate that “it appears likely to us that the dogs associate a smiling face that face by using their nose to touch a picture of it shown on a with a positive meaning and an angry facial expression with a computer display screen. Faces were shown in pairs and tapping negative meaning.” the correct face gave the dog a food reward.

What is particularly interesting to me in reviewing this new Now some of you are probably thinking that the fact that dogs set of data is that the researchers report that the dogs were could learn this discrimination does not mean that dogs automuch slower to learn to associate an angry face with a reward matically read and interpret the emotional expressions of people, during the training portion of the study. This certainly seems to but rather that they can be taught this skill. However, the test suggest that the dogs already had an idea, based on prior experiphase of the experiment goes much further. The most interesting ence, that it’s best to stay away from people when they look finding comes after the training phase during which the dogs had angry. This means that asking them to approach and touch the proven that they could distinguish between happiness and anger angry face in order to get a reward conflicts with their natural when merely allowed to see only the upper or lower half of the avoidance tendencies. All of this brings me back to my young face. In the subsequent testing segment of the study, the dogs Beagle who looked at the photograph of an angry face which were shown either the other half of the face used in the training was propped up on the floor, seemed to read its expression, and stage, or halves of unfamiliar faces; the dogs could still discrimidecided that that was one photo he really didn’t want to be near. nate between the happy and angry expressions.

He seemed to understand that good things happen to dogs when Müller summarizes his conclusions by saying “Our results they are near a human with a happy face while bad things hapsuggest that the successful dogs realized that a smiling mouth pen to dogs when they are near a person with an angry expresmeans the same thing as smiling eyes.” Furthermore he suggests sion. It’s something to remember. As the expression goes, you that the dogs’ ability to thus read human facial expression is catch more flies with honey. n

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PET PROJECT

craft D.I.Y.

Pagami Paper Craft Pup

PAPER PLAY!

How cute is this? Make this adorable desktop figure by simply cutting and folding paper. Here’s how.

By Natalie Gagnon Inspired by kirigami, the Japanese art of paper cutting and folding, Pagami are simple paper crafts you can make at home. Make your own Pagami Pup in just six easy steps:

How-to Download the template at moderndogmagazine.com/pagami Print on card stock Cut solid lines

Fold on dotted lines

Materials & Technique

Match by number

For best results:

Glue all tabs

paper with a sharp scalpel. Scalpels ÆÆCut are more precise than scissors. on a cutting mat using even ÆÆCut pressure and smooth cut strokes.

a bone folder (or an empty mechanical ÆÆUse pencil will work in lieu of this specialty tool) to score fold lines with light pressure before folding to ensure a crisp edge.

on non-glossy card stock and handle ÆÆPrint paper lightly to ensure ink does not rub off. a small paint brush to apply a thin ÆÆUse coat of liquid white glue to each tab.

ÆÆCut away from yourself to prevent injury. a metal ruler to cut straight lines. ÆÆUse A ruler with a foam or cork bottom is recommended as it will prevent slipping.

you make a mistake, simply ÆÆIfreprint and try again.

a smaller or larger Pagami, try using ÆÆToyourmake printer’s scaling options or take your Pagami PDF file to a copy shop for assistance.

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BREED PROFILE

The Mastiff The tough-looking exterior of this BIG dog—the largest of the giant breeds— disguises an inner softie. Is the Mastiff right for you? Read on to find out…

By Kelly Caldwell

What we have here is possibly the dog world’s biggest contradiction—because underneath all of that power and muscle is one of the sweetest, most sensitive, and loving members of the canine world.

W

ith his massive, muscular body and ferocious-sounding bark, the Mastiff can strike fear in the hearts of men. Of the giant breeds, he is the largest (as defined by body mass—this breed is not only big but heavy) and can clock in at well over 200 pounds. But what we have here is possibly the dog world’s biggest contradiction—because underneath all of that power and muscle is one of the sweetest, most sensitive, and loving members of the canine world.

Where did these gentle giants originate?

The Mastiff descended from the ancient Alaunt and Molosser, giant hunting and guarding dogs whose Tolkien-sounding names befit their antiquity (think B.C.). From here, the Mastiff was developed over many thousands of years. Artwork from the Babylonian era depicts lion-hunting dogs that, other than being thinner and taller than Mastiffs, bear striking similarity to today’s breed. Egyptian drawings feature dogs of this type as far back as 3000 BC. Pictorial evidence aside, however, what exists with regard to the breed’s earliest development is essentially folklore–but what interesting folklore it is! Phoenician traders are thought to have brought Mastiffs to England, where they were subsequently taken by Romans during Caesar’s invasion in 55 BC. Caesar is said to have brought a large number of Mastiffs back to Italy for guard work and to fight in the arenas. Marco Polo wrote of the 5,000 Mastiffs held in the kennel of Kubla Khan, used for fighting and war assistance.

Ultimately, though, the majority of the breed’s development occurred in England, dating as far back as the fifteenth century.

Then, poverty and hunger were epidemic among the commoners, and thievery and poaching for food were rampant as a result. The nobles, with plentiful food and game on their land, could afford to feed a massive dog and used the Mastiff to scare away those who trespassed on their land in search of food or game.

By the early 20th century, the Mastiff’s numbers had dwindled in England, but fanciers worked to sustain the breed, introducing the St. Bernard into the mix. Breed popularity soared but the Mastiff’s future would face another hurdle. During the Second World War, many large breeds faced the possibility of extinction.

In a time when people were starving, it was seen as an excess (and downright unpatriotic) to house and feed a giant dog. The Mastiff’s numbers plummeted.

In the late 1940s, a dedicated group of British fanciers took matters into their own hands, and made it their mission to revive

the breed. Records show that, by this time, there were only seven Mastiffs alive in England! The situation was dire, so off to America the breeders went, in pursuit of suitable breeding stock. (The breed was introduced to America in the 1800s and recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1885.) Ultimately, two puppies were imported into England and those dogs would become the foundation stock needed to save the breed. Other breeds with similar physical traits and temperaments were selectively introduced, including the Bullmastiff, the Great Dane, and the St. Bernard.

Today’s Mastiff is a family companion. Looking for a guard dog?

The Mastiff will not fit the bill. While these dogs will protect their families, it is more a case of watching over their flock rather than fighting for it. Typically, you’ll be alerted when someone comes to the door by a bark—a very loud and ferocious-sounding bark, I might add. But once folks are in your home and your Mastiff sees that you have accepted them, that’ll be good enough for him.

The Mastiff is a true house dog. He will not respond well to periods of extended time away from you. These dogs bond very closely with their guardians and certainly fit the classic description of a Velcro dog—the kind who literally sticks to you all the time.

If you value independence and time alone, this isn’t the breed for you. You will find that the According to the most recent Mastiff wants to be beside you AKC registration statistics and, likely, on you. His paw [1] Labrador Retriever may find itself on your leg, his [2] German Shepherd Dog massive head in your lap, or he [3] Golden Retriever may be a leaner who likes to [4] Bulldog plop his sizable rump on your [5] Beagle foot. One way or another, the [6] Yorkshire Terrier Mastiff will make his way into [7] Poodle your personal space. To deprive [8] Boxer a Mastiff of this kind of close[9] French Bulldog ness would be to deprive him of [10] Rottweiler his strongest instinct because, [26] Mastiff for the Mastiff, to know you is to love you. So please let him.

This breed is well known for being kind and patient with children. Due to his size, though, safety and common sense are urged when small children are near. A 200-plus pound dog can knock over a toddler quite easily with a gentle nudge or a

Most Popular Dogs in the U.S.

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Size: Giant The AKC Standard includes a minimum height requirement of 27.5 inches at the shoulder. Weight is not addressed in the standard, but most males weigh from 160 to 230 pounds and females at 120 to 170 pounds.

Activity level: The easygoing Mastiff does not require a great deal of exercise, and you may even have to work at convincing him to get off the couch. Daily walks will suffice.

Grooming: A weekly brush is all that’s required to keep this breed’s short coat looking dapper and shedding minimally. Keep those toenails filed down, so this massive breed doesn’t slip and fall.

Heritage: Originally, the Mastiff used his massive size to protect his owners and for service in battle. Today, his role is that of devoted family companion.

For information on Mastiff rescue in the United States, visit mcoamastiff.com. In Canada, visit www.mastiffcanada.org.

If you like the Mastiff, you might also want to learn about the Neapolitan Mastiff, Dogue de Bordeaux, and St. Bernard.

Neapolitan Mastiff

Dogue de Bordeaux

READ YOUR BREED

St. Bernard

For more breed profiles, go to moderndogmagazine.com/breeds

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INSET IMAGE © AKC INSET IMAGES © AKC

Profile: The Mastiff

happily-swinging tail.

In terms of energy-level and exercise requirements, the Mastiff is calm and easy to live with. A moderate daily walk will keep him happy. That being said, the eager to please Mastiff is up for some activities, if you’re game. Mastiffs have done very well in canine sports like Obedience, Rally, Agility, and Carting. Their sweet disposition has also made them notoriously good Therapy dogs.

Now, about the slobber.

Well, Mastiff fanciers will tell you a few things. First, they’ll quickly point out that the Mastiff is not the biggest culprit for slobber-slinging in the dog world. There are droolier breeds! But some slobber is a fact of daily life and, especially after eating or drinking, a wipe with a towel will be needed to keep drool in check. Mastiff owners typically have small towels placed strategically around their homes, in their cars, etc. And you may surprise yourself, because plenty of Mastiff devotees not only say that slobber is a small price to pay for life with the gentle giant, but admit they’ve learned to love those big, wet kisses.

As with most Giant breeds, there are some bottom-line considerations that come into play when you’re thinking about opening up your home to a Mastiff.

First, bigger dogs can translate into higher costs. Once past their growing stage, Mastiffs will typically eat between six to eight cups of food for day—that’s roughly 40 to 70 pounds per month.

Veterinary expenses are also going to come at a premium in some cases, since many medications are dosed based upon weight.

But perhaps most important is to factor in the commitment that absolutely must be dedicated to obedience training. Life with an unruly 200-pound dog is not going to work out well, so it’s critical that obedience training begins when the Mastiff is in his early puppy stage. Establishing proper boundaries is very important, for everything from walking calmly on-leash to greeting people without jumping up or sitting quietly for a nail trim. The Mastiff can be quite shy and he is known to have a stubborn streak. These traits, too, can and should be worked on with training from an early age.

As always, be sure to find a trainer who emphasizes only positive reinforcement techniques. This sensitive breed will respond particularly poorly to harsh or negative training.

Health-wise, the Mastiff is known as a hearty breed but like all dogs can be prone to some disorders, including hip and elbow dysplasia, cancer, and eye disorders. Some of these issues are hereditary; others are not. If working with a breeder, be sure to do your research to choose a reputable one whose dogs come with health clearances.

The Mastiff isn’t a dog you see every day, and that’s rather a shame. We live in such complicated times that many people would likely find a perfect companion in this easy-going, calm-natured breed. Cuddling up with the dog world’s biggest softy feels like a quiet port in a storm. n

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EASING THE GUILT

5 WAYS TO MAKE IT UP TO YOUR HOMEALONE DOG

By Teoti Anderson You work, so you need to leave your dog home alone all day. When you come home, between the chores, paying the bills, and family, you still have a ton of things to do. Sometimes it can feel like poor Fido comes last.

Here are five fun ways to make it up to your dog.

1

2

Did someone say car ride?

Hang out with friends

Sure, it’s great to take your dog for a romp or long walk at a park. If you can do that, your dog will love it! But your dog is happy to go with you just about anywhere. So if you don’t have time for an epic adventure, take a mini road trip. Do you have errands to run at a store that accepts dogs? Take your dog with you! For example, many home supply stores will allow dogs. Or go to a pet supply store and buy your dog a special toy. Go anywhere your dog would enjoy. Simply a change in environment is mentally stimulating to your dog and she will of course take any opportunity to be in your company. Remember, though, that your dog should be comfortable in public, friendly with others, and wellbehaved in social settings.

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Take your dog to go visit some pals. Does your dog have a favourite canine play buddy? If you have an energetic dog that has been cooped up all day, giving him the chance to play with another dog can be great exercise as well as great fun. You also get the benefit of hanging out with other people who love their dogs as much as you love yours.

When evaluating playdates for your dog, choose a dog of similar size that has a similar play style. If you put two dogs together who have different play styles, one dog’s good intentions can be mistaken for hostility by another dog. For example, you may have a dog who loves to chase and be chased. Add a dog who loves to body slam, and your dog may get offended. Your dog may not appreciate a dog that slams into his personal space, and he could react with fear or aggression as a result.

When it comes to matchmaking for your dog’s playtime buddy, be choosy to ensure a good match.

Looking for a best friend for your dog? This beautiful Pointer, currently being fostered by Lori Seay, is up for adoption through Florida’s Pointer Rescue Organization (pointerrescue.org). Just look at that smile! If you’re interested in adopting, email grneyetreat@aol.com.

3 Take your dog to dinner Give yourself a break from cooking tonight and take your dog out to dinner. Choose a restaurant with outdoor seating that accepts dogs. Don’t know of any in your area?

Put together a picnic and go to a nearby park! Food, your company, and the great outdoors? For dogs this is the ultimate trifecta!

4 Learn something new Train your dog! Work on foundation behaviours, such as walking nicely on leash or no jumping. Or teach him a fun trick. Positive training increases your bond with your dog —he learns to want to work with you. Whether you take a training class or learn something at home, it’s great quality time you both will appreciate.

5 Enjoy one-on-one time Just spend time with your dog. If your dog is a snuggler, cuddle up together on the couch. Or simply spend 15 straight minutes telling him how awesome he is. After a long day, when you park yourself for a rest, encourage your dog to come join you for some bonding time together–some dogs needs to be encouraged to get off their bed and join you in the living room.

After you’ve spent all this time easing your guilt for leaving your dog alone so much, here’s a bonus tip just for you: stop beating yourself up. You have bills to pay and responsibilities. There are going to be times when you need to be gone. If you are gone more than 8–10 hours a day, do consider hiring a pet sitter to give your dog a break during the day. You might also explore a quality doggie daycare in your area. As long as you give your dog the appropriate amount of time, attention, exercise, care, and affection he needs to be healthy, he’s going to be ok. Dogs are amazingly adaptable creatures And your absence is forgotten the minute you walk through the door. n moderndogmagazine.com

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XXXXXXX RESCUE TALE

How I Met My Dog

Old Dog

By Cathy Mayrides

W

e found her sixteen years ago when she was running the streets with a pack of small dogs in Queens. What are the chances, this little girl and five Yorkies? We were suspicious of a disreputable pet shop owner in the neighbourhood who was known to keep dogs caged in his basement when they weren’t adopted right away. She was at least six months old, so we figured that maybe he got tired of feeding her and the Yorkies and turned this gang loose to fend for themselves.

My husband caught all of them, enticing the group with biscuits as they ran down our street. The Yorkies were adopted out quickly and without a problem. But what to do with the odd-looking (maybe Dachshund, maybe Papillion, maybe Sheltie, maybe Terrier) mixed breed who had lots of spunk and a big attitude from the beginning? I knew my husband wanted to keep her, but my plate was full at that particular time. My dad was seriously ill and in the hospital and I was busy working fulltime, going to school, and visiting him daily. We also had another dog and a menagerie of cats. But I knew that my guy would assume all the “pet duties,” so I gave in (she was cute in a strange way). And later on, I would link this dog to a time when Dad was still around, when my husband was alive…a little magical thinking but a comfort nonetheless.

She was a character. She would toss a toy in front of our mildmannered, sweet Pit Bull, and wait for him to pick it up. And when she did, this little terror would charge at him, snapping and barking. The Pit Bull would drop the toy and retreat, tail between his legs, rather than deal with her nonsense. She periodically chased our cats around the house, until she got tired of the game. Then her body language would say, “I dare you to chase me back.” They retreated because they knew better.

When we moved upstate, she had a yard to run free in, and all the squirrels and woodchucks she could terrorize. I was always amazed at how fast she could sprint down the stairs and across the grass, racing past the big dog without resting or panting, even in warm weather. Once, the big guy figured out how to open the back gate and the two of them disappeared into the neighbourhood. He returned first, soaking wet, most likely from swimming

in some backyard pools. She was gone much longer and we thought she was lost and we’d never see her again…and all of a sudden, there she was. She was walking slowly and deliberately up the street and along the curb, into our driveway, and down the walk to the front door. She sat on the step, waiting impatiently for someone to let her in the house, looking like nothing had happened.

She is part of an era past, but she’s still here, although time is not doing her any favours these days. Her once-silky hair mats and falls out in patches, and her eyes are clouded over with cataracts. She is losing teeth and she’s incontinent at night, and sometimes she trips and falls on the stairs. When I go out, she is anxious and hates being left alone. She barks and paces and sometimes vomits. She sleeps more than she used to and is prone to colds and infections, but I don’t mean to sound like she has a miserable life. Not at all. Her life is certainly more difficult, but she still has her own agenda. It takes a little longer for her to become oriented in the morning (which is true of myself as well). But when I finally open the bedroom door, she’s off and running—no, skipping—down the hallway, looking forward to breakfast and a walk outside. If it’s windy or raining or snowing, she likes to stop and sit and squint her eyes, smelling the air and taking it all in before we can continue. She is standoffish with adults, but seems to enjoy the company of children in her old age. The other day she sat with my granddaughter and licked her face, a show of affection that was not in her nature when she was younger.

More than a few times, I have looked at her and thought, “This is it. Prepare yourself, she’s not looking well.” I have rushed her to the veterinarian, hoping that whatever is ailing her can be temporarily fixed since I am not ready to let her go. The doctor is always amazed at her resolve to stay here a little longer. So am I. I have to admit that I have been a selfish human and imagined what life would be like if I didn’t have to run home for her; if I didn’t have to walk her and clean up after her. But I think that, when her time comes, we will both know. Right now, I look at her curled up in her favourite corner, where the sun comes through the blinds and she feels warm. I think, “Stay a little longer, old dog. You are loved.” n

Email submissions for Last Lick to lastlick@moderndogmagazine.com. Because of the volume of email, the magazine cannot respond to every submission.

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Connie’s Book Club From Hudson in Provence

Hit the beach with a good dog and a good book

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF CONNIE WILSON’S SELECTION OF SUMMER MUST-READS.

Hudson in Provence

By Jackie Clark Mancuso American pup Hudson is back in France, this time vacationing in Provence and you’ll wish you were there with him! Hudson is looking to find his purpose, but it is only when he stops trying to be like other dogs that he learns just what that is.

Prepare to be enchanted by this little dog abroad and the charming illustrations of his French adventures. A delightful story for animal lovers young and old alike!

Stepdog: A Memoir

By Mireya Navarro In Stepdog, author Mireya Navarro looks back at her real-life struggles to blend families after she meets the man of her dreams. The biggest obstacle to her newfound happiness? Her husband’s dog, Eddie. She struggles to deal with this demanding dog, but ultimately finds that her family would be incomplete without him.

Ellie’s Story: A Dog’s Purpose Novel

By W. Bruce Cameron In Ellie’s Story, Ellie, a search and rescue dog finds that those in need of rescue are not always pinned by rubble or trapped in a building—her handlers, a widower named Jakob and a lonely woman named Maya, need her help too. This Young Adult novel is a must-read for young animal lovers. moderndogmagazine.com

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The Dog Who Saved Summer Directed by Sean Olson Here’s one for the whole family!

Pop in this just released DVD for put-a-smile-on-your-face viewing.

The Dog Who Saved Summer, the sixth installment in this heartwarming family, is a guaranteed hit with kids of all ages. When former police K-9 Zeus accidentally destroys an important party, the Bannister family decides it’s time to send him to obedience school. But classes start off on the wrong paw, and the Banister children, fearing the pound may be his next stop, decide to enlist help from a janitor who teaches them his unique training methods. Add in a familiar trio of bumbling burglars that must be stopped and Zeus and the children have their task cut out for them!

From Hudson in Provence

Rescue Me: Tales of Rescuing the Dogs Who Became Our Teachers, Healers, and Always Faithful Friends Talking with Dogs and Cats: Joining the Conversation to Improve Behavior and Bond with Your Animals

By Tim Link Deepen your understanding of your dog with Tim Link’s insightful book, Talking with Dogs and Cats. Link unpacks interspecies communication to help solve behavioural problems. His keen comprehension of animals’ feelings and personalities is inspiring.

Good Dog, Happy Baby: Preparing Your Dog for the Arrival of Your Child

By Michael Wombacher Dog trainer Michael Wombacher offers easy to follow advice for preparing your first child (your dog) for the arrival of your baby. Good Dog, Happy Baby helps families navigate this tricky transition time, ensuring everyone in your family is prepared, happy, and healthy. If you’re expecting or know someone who is, this is a must read.

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By Val Silver and Team Rescue This heartwarming, inspiring book shares a touching collection of stories about the love, commitment, healing, twists of fate, and ultimately the bond that comes from finding your canine soul mate. As this book illustrates (and as many of us can attest!), rescued dogs more often than not go on to rescue their people right back. These lovely stories will resonate with many.

No Better Friend: One Man, One Dog, and Their Extraordinary Story of Courage and Survival in WWII

By Robert Weintraub This extraordinary true story of survival and friendship between a man and a dog concerns the incredible story of WWII’s only canine POW, a purebred Pointer named Judy, and Frank Williams, a Royal Air Force technician.

The two meet in a Japanese internment camp, where Judy is a beacon of hope for the prisoners.

This remarkable account of the unshakable bond formed between these two demonstrates the love and devotion to be found even in the worst circumstances. If you’re looking for a story that movingly illustrates the depth of the bond between people and animals, this is it. n

BOTHERED AND BEWILDERED? CRAZED AND CONFUSED? IF YOUR DOGGIE DILEMMA HAS YOU DOWN IN THE DUMPS…

ask dog lady

by Monica Collins

Q

Dear Dog Lady, When my ex-husband moved out, he took the dog Sandy, a scruffy terrier mix of indeterminate lineage with long legs, sorrowful eyes, and a sweet gentle personality. He had brought Sandy into the marriage 11 years ago when she was a puppy and he took her away when she was the best part of our fractured family.

I can’t stop crying. He says I can come to visit Sandy and take her for a walk. But I don’t want to be reliant on my ex for anything. How do I get over this? —Miss the Dog Madly, Cambridge, MA A: Swallow your pride and visit Sandy at your ex-husband’s residence. What’s the harm? The dog will be happy and so will you— more and more as you get your two feet on the ground. No divorce is easy but your feelings for Sandy are pure and simple. These emotions always win in the end. Honest feelings shouldn’t be sullied by whatever antipathy you feel toward your ex-husband. Sandy is the best part of him.

You now have a paw print on your back.

You are a marked woman who should definitely start looking for a dog of your own.

You have no excuses. This is an optimum

A

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situation for bringing a pet into your home.

You are dog-less, spouse-less, and ready to start over.

Dear Dog Lady, I have a pedigreed longhaired Dachshund named Autumn. I intend to breed her when my male Dachshund, Kazi, is of suitable age. The problem is that my fiancé, who lives with us, has Max, an intact 45-pound male dog of unknown breed.

Every time Autumn is in season, we must confine her to a bedroom to keep Max from getting to her. She is miserable because she is confined. Max is miserable for the obvious reasons. I have begged my fiancé to get Max altered for everyone’s sanity, especially Max’s, but he always comes up with an excuse.

He says that he wants to have “Max puppies” someday, or he comments on “doing that” to him. There are so many wonderful mixed breed dogs in shelters.

I have tried to explain this to my fiancé to discourage him from wanting “Max puppies.”

I have also explained that it is kind to alter Max rather than allowing him to be miserable every time Autumn is in season. I have offered to pay for it myself. Is there any advice that you can give? Am

I being unreasonable to ask him to have Max altered?—Linda, Providence, RI A: It sounds like everyone in your household needs fixing. Your fiancé is not wrong to be rankled by your constant prodding to have his dog altered while your dogs continue to hold onto their private parts. This situation understandably rankles your guy.

Why shouldn’t he demand “Max puppies?”

Dog Lady believes in dog castration—all ages, all stages, all breeds, all mutts must be spayed or neutered. Such is the only conscientious course, considering the horrors of pet overpopulation. Men can be weird about the “big snip-snip,” but, in this environment, your fiancé has every right to stick up for Max’s manhood. When you live by your own good example with your own dogs, you will have the moral authority to demand he get his dog neutered.

Dear Dog Lady, I am in a new relationship with a man I adore. The only problem is his dog, Chopper, who’s “in control.” The dog barks constantly, jumps in people’s laps (not a lap-size dog) and sleeps smack in the middle of us in the bed. We can’t even be affectionate because of the dog blocking us. I don’t mind the dog being in the bed, but I think he needs to be

ask dog lady at the end of the bed. I just can’t handle a dog conditioned to do what he pleases. How do I handle this situation?—Claire, Toronto, ON A: Tackle this block through the man you “adore.” Your man has all the control with Chopper. You should understand the relationship between him and his pet is strong and enduring. This should give you hope because any guy who loves a dog has a lot of love to give.

But this man may also be using the dog as an excuse to prevent a woman from entry in to his home and heart. Whatever you do or say, please maintain your sense of humour and composure. You should not become so attached to a Chopper-less outcome that you forget you can still walk away.

You might begin the conversation simply by suggesting Chopper be trained to sleep in his own dog bed. This seems reasonable enough. See how the man you adore responds to this modest proposal. If he reacts negatively or defensively, you have insight into his character and his ability to forge a relationship with you. If he’s open to your suggestion, the departure point may lead to a general conversation about the dog’s behaviour. An honest conversation between two people usually results in a feeling of drawing closer. Let’s hope this is the happy result.

Dear Dog Lady, Because his ex-wife gave him the dog, I suddenly found myself as step-human to my live-in boyfriend’s 11-year-old stubborn Dachshund. The dog loves my boyfriend very deeply and that seems to be the problem. She doesn’t listen to me at all. It’s clear she sees herself as next in line after my boyfriend. She won’t leave me alone while I’m eating. If I’m in the kitchen cooking, I have a furry Dachshund ankle bracelet. She’s destroyed 12 pair of underwear and the contents of my purse.

When the two of us are alone, she barks at everything.

She no longer sits on the couch or sleeps in our bed. But I still fight for my food and hide all my belongings so she doesn’t destroy them. I feel like an outsider when I’m in my own house.

Everything she does annoys me. My boyfriend tries to help and he takes my side more than hers, but it’s starting to cause problems in our relationship.—Angie, Seattle, WA A: Surely you must think the “stubborn Dachshund” is cute occasionally. A sense of humour is so important when dealing with a dog.

Please don’t take anything personally or ascribe evil human thinking to the dog. Pick up your stuff. Leave nothing for this dippy Dachshund to nibble. Most importantly: have confidence. Be your own woman. Basically, ignore the hot dog. Don’t try to win her affection. Don’t bend to what you perceive as her wishes. You have to live with her so just do what you have to do. You’ve already won the battle of the bedroom. Now, you must set more boundaries.

And how about taking her for a walk outside the house? Surely, this shared activity will start to set the bond between you two. n Visit askdoglady.com to ask a question or make a comment.

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LAST LICK

Animal lovers are a special breed of humans, generous of spirit, full of empathy, perhaps a little prone to sentimentality, and with hearts as big as a cloudless sky. —John Grogan

PHOTO SARAHANN DOG PHOTOGRAPHY

Photographed by Sarah Daloise

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